Scolopia zeyheri leaves

The alternate leaves of Scolopia zeyheri, variable in shape and size, grow on stalks that become up to 1,5 cm long. The leaves in picture are lanceolate, but may be broader to almost circular. The leaf-tip and base taper, the margin is entire to obscurely, bluntly or sharply toothed.

The leaf texture is leathery and hairless, its colour dull green above, paler below. Four to six pairs of lateral veins, prominent upon both surfaces, ascend from the midribs in inward curves to near the margins. Leaf dimensions are 2 cm to 8 cm by 1 cm to 3,5 cm.

Leaves often have a waxy coating that leaves a white line when the leaf is folded. This line does not appear on the glossier leaves of S. mundii, an otherwise similar species.

S. zeyheri bears small, creamy white flowers from late autumn to early spring (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002).