Aspalathus costulata Benth.

An erect, fairly much branched shrub, 0.6-1.5 m tall. Young branches densely white-and short-villous. Leaflets ovoid or sausage-shaped, 1-3 mm long, 0.5 mm thick, terete, obtuse to subacute, easily becoming dark when dried. Flowers usually 1-5 on each branch end, situated at some distance from the leafy branch tip. Bract at pedicel base, oblong-spathulate, 1.7-2.5 x 0.5-1.1 mm, flat to ± convex, obtuse (or subacute). Pedicel ±1 mm long, tomentose. Bracteoles similar to the bract, 1.7-2.8 x 0.5-0.8 mm. Calyx tube sometimes partly violet, subglabrous or with scattered, short, spreading hairs; lobes deltoid, 0.7-2 mm long, acute to apiculate, glabrous. Petals rose ('mauve') or pale purplish. Standard blade 7-9.5 x 5.5-8.5 mm, subacute and slightly incurved apically, glabrous or basally pubescent. Wing blades 6-9 x 2.2-3 mm, glabrous. Keel blades 6-7(-8.5) x 3-4 mm. Pistil hairy on the very short stipe only; ovules 3-8. Pod rhombic-ovate, 6.5-7.5 x ±3.5 mm, subterete, slightly rugose, almost black when ripe.