The compound leaves of Lannea discolor are spirally arranged upon the upper stems, appearing annually after the flowers. The leaves become 30 cm long.
Leaflets grow in three to five pairs on a straight to slightly curved rachis; a terminal leaflet is also present. Leaflet shape is elliptic to oblong, their margins entire. Only the terminal leaflet is symmetric and has a long petiolule (stalk) of between 1 cm to 2,5 cm; the lateral ones are asymmetric on short petiolules of not more than 3 mm.
The upper surfaces of leaflets may be pale green as seen here, often darker green. On their lower surfaces the leaflets have a whitish, felted covering (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Pooley, 1993).