Aspalathus desertorum Bolus

A shrublet 0.7-1 m tall with spreading, rigid, pale, frequently thorn-like branches. Young branches short-tomentose. Long-shoot leaves with a 0.5-1.5 mm long, slightly recurved, woody spur or spine at the base. Leaflets subfiliform, 1-3.5 mm long, weak, subterete, obtuse-subacute, pale green, glabrous or with few hairs. Inflorescence of 1-3 flower situated rather close together on the branch ends. Bract similar to a leaflet of a foliar leaf, filiform-subulate, 3.5-4.5 mm long, sometimes supported by a woody spur less than 1 mm long. Pedicel 1.5-2 mm long, tomentose. Bracteoles subulate, 4-5 mm long. Calyx campanulate, tomentose; lobes triangular or narrowly triangular, 1.5-2 mm long, green, often ± recurved, upper deltoid, broader than the lower. Petals light or pale yellow, standard back sometimes ± purplish. Standard blade elliptic-ovate, 7.8-9(-10) x 6.2-8(-8.5) mm, tomentose on the back. Wing blades 6-8 x 2.5-3.5 mm, glabrous. Keel blades subrostrate, 8.2-9.5 x 3-3.6 mm. Pistil: ovary tomentose; ovules 4-6; style glabrous; stigma regular, capitate. Pods not seen.