The lower surface of the Pappea capensis leaf is concave from margins strongly rolled under. The tip is rounded. The creamy yellow leaf stalk, short and thick, continues prominently on the lower surface. The margins here entire, are sharply serrated on young trees. Leaf colour may be considerably darker and duller than seen here.

The slightly ascending lateral veins are less conspicuous, nearly reaching the margins where they split into short branches before becoming invisible. The upper surfaces are slightly deeper green, the venation only slightly sunken. P. capensis leaves are variable.

The branches in picture are few-leaved at stem-tips, smooth and pale grey (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993).