Dalbergia melanoxylon leaves

The once compound leaves of Dalbergia melanoxylon are clustered or fascicled upon small side-branches and spiny twigs. Leaf stipules are leaf-like, up to 5 mm long and dropping off early.

The imparipinnate leaf comprises up to thirteen alternate, sub-opposite or opposite leaflets including a terminal one. The leaflets are ovate to obovate in shape with tapering bases and rounded tips, some notched. Leaflet margins are entire and their petiolules or stalks short; the leaf itself has a slightly longer petiole.

The leaf itself becomes about 9 cm long, the leaflets variable between 1 cm and 3 cm long and 0,4 cm to 2 cm wide.

The leaves turn yellow in autumn before they drop off (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Grant and Thomas, 2001; iSpot).