Parinari curatellifolia leaves

The simple leaves of Parinari curatellifolia are alternate or spiralling around the stems on hairy petioles of 0,5 cm to 1 cm long. Two small glands are sometimes present on or next to the leaf base.

The leaf shape is elliptic to oblong and variable, the tip broadly tapering or notched, the base square, rounded or tapering. The leaf margins are entire and wavy, sometimes appearing slightly scalloped. Leaf dimensions are 3 cm to 8 cm by 2 cm to 4 cm.

The leaf upper surface is glossy green, the lower one pale grey or yellowish and hairy. Lateral veins ascend slightly in herringbone style from the midrib, close together and almost parallel. Venation is ridged, raised on the upper surface, not quite reaching the margins (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002).