The stalkless leaves of Hermannia rudis ascend in spaced tufts on the upper stems, the woody lower stems becoming bare. The yellow green to dark green leaf is narrowly wedge-shaped, folded in along its midrib. There are a few acutely pointed marginal teeth near the leaf tip.
The leaves and reddish upper branches are usually hairy. The pointed, leafy stipules may drop off early (Burman and Bean, 1985; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://fernkloof.org.za).