The leaves of Eulophia clitellifera may be absent during the blooming season. They are basal and distichous (in two opposite, vertical arrays), thick, stiff and channelled, tapering to acutely pointed tips.

In the photo the leaves are dull green, tinged with purple on the margins that are entire. Leaf dimensions are about 24 cm long and 1,5 cm wide.

Secondary leaves, tiny and pointed, are spaced and opposite or spiralling up the flower stalk below the flowers. They continue as bracts up the nodes into the inflorescence, subtending every flower in the spike.

A dry flower stalk from an earlier flowering is visible, emerging from beside the foliage. Scars are visible upon it where the stem leaves had dropped off (Lowrey and Wright, 1987; Pooley, 1998; Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982).