The leaf-pairs of Odontophorus marlothii are sometimes visibly stalked, always fused at the base. The flattened dark stem extends from the leaf-pair to the next leaves or flower (out of picture), emerging from the gap between the leaf bases that are coloured orange-yellow. Old leaf skin persists around the leaf bases.

The deeply keeled and thickly succulent, triangular leaves have a few withered, string-like teeth on the upper parts of margin and keel, unevenly spaced. At other times these teeth may still be fleshy, coloured whitish, rarely pink. The plant is commonly known in Afrikaans as the tanddraer (tooth bearer).

The pale turquoise leaf surfaces are densely covered in darker spots, differing in size and shape (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist).