Tabernaemontana elegans leaves

The simple, opposite leaves of Tabernaemontana elegans, a semi-deciduous tree, are densely together near the branch tips, usually falling at the end of winter into early spring.

The leaf-shape is oblong to elliptic, the apex broadly tapering to an acutely pointed tip, sometimes attenuated and the base tapering. The leaf margins are entire. The hairless blades are leathery, glossy and bright to dark green above, notably paler below. The leaves tend to curve down slightly lengthwise.

The midrib is conspicuous, cream-coloured. Straight lateral veins emerge from the midrib, curving forward abruptly near the margins and meeting the next higher vein, usually without quite reaching the margins. The lateral veins are fairly evenly spaced and mostly paired on opposite sides of the midrib or nearly so. Venation is prominent on the lower leaf surface.

Leaf dimensions are 9 cm to 20 cm long by 5 cm to 7 cm wide. The petiole is thick, 1 cm to 2,5 cm long. Short-lived leaf stipules are joined into a small sheath.

Leaves and other tree parts exude a milky latex. (The tree belongs to the Apocynaceae family after all.) (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).