Aspalathus aristata Garab. ex Compton

A decumbent, procumbent or ± prostrate shrublet, reaching up to ±0.3 m above the ground, sparsely or densely branched. Young branches glabrous (or partly puberulous). Leaflets subulate or needle-like, (2-)4-8(-11) mm long, recurved or more or less S-curved with recurved apex, subterete, greyish green or glaucous, glabrous, ending in a fine, sharp spine up to 1.5 mm long. Inflorescence unifloral, on tips of branchlets; sometimes, by growth of a branch in the axil of the uppermost leaf, seemingly lateral. Bract broadly subulate, 0.5-1.7 mm long, acute or mucronulate, subglabrous. Pedicel 0.5-1.5 mm long, glabrous, merging into the calyx. Bracteoles 0.2-0.6 mm long. Calyx narrowly campanulate, glabrous, smooth; lobes subulate-acicular, (1.9-)2.5-5.1 mm long, tapering, aristate or cuspidate, ± upcurved. Petals pale yellow or usually ± purplish or rose-coloured, often two-coloured: pale yellow and purple. Standard blade 4.8-7 x 4-6(-7) mm, rounded but with a 'tip', short-sericeous on the back except the base. Wing blades 3.8-5(-5.3) x 1.5-2.5(-3) mm. Keel blades (4-)4.5-6 x 2.3-3.5 mm, with S-shaped upper margin concave in the middle. Pistil glabrous; ovules 2. Pod broadly lanceolate or narrowly ovate, (7-)8-10 x 3.5-4.2 mm.