Gymnosporia polyacantha subsp. polyacantha leaves

The leaves of Gymnosporia polyacantha subsp. polyacantha grow in fascicles on dwarf spur-branchlets in the axils of the spines or at branch ends. Their petioles are short, only about 1 mm long.

The leaves are small, narrowly oblanceolate in shape. The leaf tip tapers broadly, is rounded or notched; the base tapers. Leaf margins may be entire, obscurely scalloped or toothed. Leaf venation is usually visible on both surfaces; in picture only the midrib is conspicuous, while some lateral veins can be seen ascending to the margins. Most leaves in the photo are concave, shallowly canoe-shaped.

Some of the spines also bear leaves, growing opposite each other. The spines are sturdy here, pale grey to whitish, mostly with brown tips (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).