I found out these are called scale leaves.
They have hardened and transpire moisture just like a regular leaf.
Yet they are 1/4 inch wide.
I inserted a white sheet of paper stock (for the photo) to break up half the photo from visable light to a breakdown of visable light.
A few months from now the plant should sort itself out for sure...right.
Great experience so far.
Scale leaves
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr