Commiphora capensis leaves

The trifoliolate leaves of Commiphora capensis are spirally arranged or appear in small clusters from upper stem nodes and small spur-branchlets.

They grow on petioles that vary from 1 mm to 1 cm in length. The petiolules (stalks of the leaflets) are so short that their presence is debatable, not longer than 2 mm.

The hairless leaflet is broadly obovate or almost circular. Its tip is rounded, notched or tapering, the base rounded or slightly lobed. The central leaflet is larger, up to 1,8 cm long by 1, 4 cm wide, the lateral ones smaller, sometimes less than half the middle one.

The leaflet margins are entire or scalloped, more so in their upper parts. Leaflet surfaces are dark green to dull green on both surfaces and leathery. A few lateral veins may ascend visibly from the midrib, disappearing into the net-veining before the margins. The blade often folds or curves in along its midrib that is prominent on the lower surface.

The leaves are browsed by game (Mannheimer and Curtis, (Eds.), 2009; Williamson, 2010; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist).