Erythrina caffra leaves

The deciduous foliage of Erythrina caffra may produce a dense summer canopy after its spring flowering season.

The trifoliolate leaf structure is recognised when looking closely. The terminal leaflet is the largest, broadly ovate or egg-shaped to elliptic. The two lateral leaflets are smaller, lacking prickles. There are glands present where the leaflets join the leaf rachis. The leaf stipules at the petiole base are present for only a brief period.

Leaves of this species closely resemble those of E. lysistemon that partly overlaps its Eastern Cape coastal distribution area (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).