Tetradenia riparia leaves

    Tetradenia riparia leaves

    The leaves of Tetradenia riparia grow opposite on  4 cm long, fleshy, pale petioles.

    The leaf-shape is ovate to nearly circular with scalloped or serrated margins. The leaf apex tapers, the base is lobed. The leaf surface is soft, fleshy, velvety and sticky from a covering of glandular hairs upon both surfaces. The generic name of Tetradenia means having four glands.

    The midrib and lateral leaf veins are indented on the upper surface and prominent below. The reticulation of net-veining is conspicuous in the photo. Leaves become 3,5 cm to 10 cm long and 3,5 cm to 9 cm wide, although most leaves are near the middle of that range (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1998).