Hertia alata leafy branches

The simple, alternate leaves of Hertia alata are obovoid to elliptic with rounded tips and sometimes widened laterally low down in wings on the stems. The specific name, alata, is derived from the Latin word alatus meaning wing, referring to these leaf wings. The leaves are found on the upper parts of thin, woody stems.

The leaf margins are mostly entire, sometimes wavy. The blades are smooth, hairless and yellow green to grey green or blue green. The central and few additional veins are conspicuous from the base, pointing upwards and disappearing from sight higher up in the blades.

Leaf dimensions are about 25 mm long and 10 mm wide (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).