The alternate leaves of Schotia brachypetala, a briefly deciduous tree, grow on petioles up to 2,5 cm long. The leaves are compound or paripinnate, i.e. without a terminal leaflet present. The rachis (the axis between the spaced leaflets), is flattened, sometimes grooved or winged.

Four to seven pairs of leaflets are opposite or nearly so, growing on short stalks (petiolules). The leaflets near the leaf tip are bigger. Leaflets are oblong, ovate-oblong or nearly rectangular. Their tips are rounded or pointed, their bases asymmetrically rounded. Leaflet margins are entire, sometimes wavy. Leaflets are occasionally hairy, but usually not.

Parallel lateral veins ascend close to each other from leaflet midribs to the margins, curving in near the end so as to not reach them. The colour of the mature leaflets is shiny dark green, although in the photo neither particularly shiny, nor dark. Lower surfaces of leaflets are pale green. Young leaves are coppery to reddish, turning bright green. Leaflet dimensions are about 2,5 cm to 8,5 cm by 1,2 cm to 4,5 cm (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993).