Rothmannia capensis straight leaves

The leaves of Rothmannia capensis are simple, usually growing opposite while occasionally having a third leaf with the pair, forming a small whorl. The leaves are crowded near stem tips, growing on short stalks. The stalks become up to 5 mm long, but are sometimes very short, almost absent. Ovate stipules grow at the petiole base.

The leaf-shape is elliptic, the tips tapering, sometimes slightly rounded or attenuating and the leaf bases tapering. The leaf margins are entire. Leaf size may reach 10 cm by 4 cm (Coates Palgrave, 2002).