Aspalathus aciphylla Harv.

Shrub or shrublet, erect, rigid, 0.3-2 m tall, sparingly to rather densely branched, with thick, stiff branches. Young branches densely tomentose. Leaflets linear-subulate, 3-10 mm long, straight, rigid, pungent, ending in a spine-let (0.5-)1-1.5 mm long. Inflorescences unifloral, on lateral short-shoots, few to numerous along the branches below leafy branch ends. Bract deltoid-triangular or ovate, flat, 3-7.5 X 2-7.5 mm, apically mucronate, glabrous except at base of inside and on margins. Pedicel 0.5-2.5 mm long, tomentose. Bracteoles similar to but narrower than the bract. Calyx widely campanulate, glabrous; lobes ovate or lanceolate, 3.5-6 mm long, upper ones basally ± overlapping, spine-tipped. Petals bright lemon-coloured, glabrous or subglabrous. Standard blade 7-14.5 x 7-14 mm, apically retuse, basally cordate, glabrous or with some hairs along the midrib of the back. Wing blades 6.5-12.5 x 3.5-6.8 mm. Keel blades 6-9 x 3.8-5.5 mm. Pistil pubescent on upper side of ovary base; ovules 4-10. Pod obliquely ovate, 11.5-13.5 x 4.5-6 mm.