The stalkless leaves of Hermannia rudis ascend in spaced tufts on the upper stems; the woody lower stems becoming bare.

The yellow green to dark green leaf is narrowly wedge-shaped, folded in along its midrib. There are a few acutely pointed marginal teeth near the leaf tip. The leaves and reddish upper branches are usually hairy. Pointed, leafy stipules may drop off early (Burman and Bean, 1985; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Andrew, 2017; iNaturalist; http://fernkloof.org.za).