The large, short-stalked leaves of Pachycarpus galpinii ascend in decussate pairs, opposite and perpendicular to the previous pair. They are spaced on the soft, erect stems.

The leaf-shape is elliptic or oblong with rounded base and apex but for a tiny, pointy protrusion at the tip. The margins are entire. The dull green blades are hairless above, may be faintly hairy below.

The thick midrib is prominent on the lower surface. Numerous parallel but not very straight lateral veins ascend from it. The veins are connected to each other near the margins and do not reach it. Smaller veins lower down create some visible reticulation. Creamy translucence of the veining appears against the light, not visible on the chunky midrib (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).