Bolandia pinnatifida leaves and stem-bases

The leaves of Bolandia pinnatifida grow long-stalked in basal tufts and mainly low on stems. The stalks are sturdy, arching out and shallowly channelled on their nearly flat upper sides.

Pinna is the Latin for feather. The specific epithet pinnatifida, also Latin brought about the English word pinnatifid meaning with margin pinnately cleft but not to the midrib, although on this plant it sometimes gets close.

There is leaf variability in the narrow shapes, particularly in the lobing and toothing. A mature plant has a large, untidy tuft comprising many leaves and from which several scapes may emerge (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).