Aspalathus ericifolia L.

An ascending to erect (rarely decumbent) shrub or shrublet, usually 0.2-0.6 m tall, sparingly to rather densely branched. Young branches villous or short-woolly. Leaflets linear(-ovoid), 0.3-3.5(-5.5) mm long, obtuse, terete, glabrous or sparsely patent-puberulous, sometimes densely pubescent on margins. Inflorescences unifloral, on lateral short-shoots, distributed along less than 20 to more than 150 mm of the branch ends. Flowers rather small. Bracts linear, 1.2-3 mm long, 0.3-0.6 mm broad, subterete or slightly flattened, similar to leaflets of vegetative leaves but more densely pubescent. Pedicel ±0.5 mm long less, pubescent. Bracteoles similar to bract, 1-3.5 mm long, 0.2-0.4 mm broad. Calyx tube pale, short-tomentose or short-ciliate; lobes linear, 0.7-4.5(-5) mm long, subterete, green, obtuse to subacute, with short, patent hairs. Petals light or bright yellow. Standard blade elliptic, 5-7.5 x 2.7-5.2 mm, tomentose(-sericeous) on most of the back, obtuse to subacute, reflexed near the middle, and sides ± recurved. Wing blades linear, 3.5-5.7 x 1.1-1.8 mm, glabrous; with 1-2 longitudinal row of transverse folds on the upper basal parts. Keel blades 3.2-4 x 1.3-2.2 mm, pubescent on the apical-lower quarter or fifth, or, more rarely, completely glabrous. Wing and keel blades attached at the base to the staminal sheath and wing blades attached basally to the keel pouches. Pistil pubescent on apical and lateral parts of the ovary; style rather slightly upcurved. Pod ovate or rhombic-ovate, 4-5.5 x 2-3 mm, tomentose.