The long narrow leaves of Aptosimum lineare var. lineare ascend and curve out, growing in a compact tuft. They are stalkless or nearly so.

Linear as the name suggests or sometimes slightly oblanceolate, the leaves have entire margins, pointed tips and faintly hairy surfaces. Some of the hairs are glandular, particularly on the upper surfaces.

The whitish midrib is visible in the channel created by the upturned margins. Leaf colour is mid-green to dull and grey-green. The leaves become up to 8 cm long (iNaturalist; JSTOR; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).