Erythrina caffra new leaves

Fresh new Erythrina caffra leaves sprouted in October are several shades paler and yellower than mature ones. There is some shine on the leaflet blades, their midribs strongly developed as are the main lateral veins ascending towards the margins.

The leaf petioles are long and sturdy with vestiges of short dark hairs possibly present. The petiolules of individual leaflets in picture are short. The leaf cluster has grown on a short side-branch that had leaves during the previous year as well.

E. lysistemon is a similar species, its leaflets and petioles can usually be differentiated by the prickles they bear (Coates Palgrave, 2002).