Heywoodia lucens leaves

The simple leaves of Heywoodia lucens are alternate or spirally arranged. Young leaves and those on coppice shoots have their petioles attached within the blade. The petioles are between 1 cm and 2 cm long.

Leaf-shape is ovate to lanceolate, the tip tapering and sometimes attenuating while the base is rounded to broadly tapering. Leaf margins are entire and wavy. The leaf surface is leathery and usually glossy green, although hardly any shine is present on the dull green and nearly round leaves at head height on this tall tree. Leaf dimensions are between 5 cm and 15 cm long by 2,5 cm to 7,5 cm wide.

Lateral veins, between eight and twelve of them, ascend from the leaf midrib and loop inwards to join the next vein well away from the margin, although secondary loops and visible net-veining are also present. The veining is visible on both surfaces and translucent against the light (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; JSTOR).