Searsia lucida leaves

The trifoliolate leaves of Searsia lucida have terminal leaflets bigger than the lateral pair. The leaflet tip tapers, is rounded or notched. The base tapers without petiolule or leaflet stalk, although the leaf overall has a stalk of variable length that may be slightly winged.

The leaflet margins are entire. The blades are dark green to olive green and slightly leathery, often glossy. The leaflets are slightly paler on their lower surfaces, the midribs ridged on both surfaces. The ascending lateral veins on leaflet surfaces are visible, not ridged.

The leaves often turn orange before they fall. Galls are sometimes seen on the leaflets (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993).