The colouring on upper twigs of Pappea capensis in picture have pale grey and brown to greenish brown sections.

The alternate leaves grow on thickish petioles, here mostly well shorter than the 1,5 cm that does occur (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).