Justicia petiolaris leaves
Author: Ivan Lätti
Photographer: Thabo Maphisa
The opposite leaves of Justicia petiolaris are stalked. The leaf-shape is lanceolate, attenuating to an acutely or bluntly pointed tip and tapering to the base. The margins are entire. The bright green blades are sometimes shiny, the midrib and incurving lateral veins recessed on the upper surface (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998).