Vitex zeyheri leaves

Vitex zeyheri, in Afrikaans the vaalpypsteelboom (grey pipe stem tree), displays a fair amount of leaf variation. The digitately shaped leaves have from three to five finger-like leaflets radiating out from the centre, the tip of the petiole.

Leaflet shape may be narrowly elliptic or shorter, obovate and rounded at the tips or abruptly attenuating. The leaflets are grey-green, leathery and more or less silvery from being covered in whitish hairs on both surfaces.

Midribs and lateral veins on the blades are sometimes clearly visible, in other cases obscure. The margins are usually entire, but may be toothed near the tips (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; iNaturalist).