Aspalathus fusca Thunb.

An ascending or erect shrub or shrublet 0.2-1(-2) m tall, with rigid branches. Young branches densely white-tomentose; short-shoots often not developed in leaf axils on the young branches. Leaflets extraordinarily variable, from linear and subterete (or canaliculate) to obovate and flat, 3-12 x 1-2.5(-3) mm, usually broadest on apical half, carnose, stiff and mucronate and usually pungent. Inflorescence a head-like umbel of 2-12 flowers. Bract usually emerging near calyx base, linear-oblong or lanceolate, 4-5.5(-8.5) x 1.5-2.5 mm, acute-mucronate. Pedicel 1-3.5 mm long, short-tomentose. Bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 4-5.5(-6.5) x 0.7-1.4 mm, carnose, pointed. Calyx glabrous; lobes triangular (-subulate), 2-4.5 mm long, acuminate or mucronulate. Petals yellow or standard partly violet, somewhat carnose. Standard blade 7.5-11 x 6.5-11 mm, almost glabrous, pubescent at base of back. Wing blades 7-10 x (2.7-)3-4.5 mm. Keel blades, halfmoon-shaped or somewhat upcurved, 6.5-9 x 3.3-4.8 mm, obtuse, glabrous, with distinct basal pouch. Pistil: ovary pubescent on basal half; ovules (4-)6(-8). Pod 11.5-12 x 3.5-4 mm, slightly rugulose.