Aspalathus nigra L.

An erect shrublet, usually 0.2-0.7 m tall. Branchlets short-tomentose. Leaflets 3-12 together on young branches, subfiliform to sausage-shaped, 1-4.5 mm long, subterete, obtuse to subacute, straight or slightly incurved, glabrous or with sparse, short hairs. Inflorescence elongate to subcapitate, with 4-15 flowers (basally only rarely with some ovate leaves without flowers in their axils). Bracts trifoliolate, trilobate or simple upwards, only rarely all 3-lobate or simple; bracts flat, shorter than 3.5 mm, when trifoliolate then like vegetative leaves, when trilobate or simple then ovate(-linear). Bracteoles linear or oblong, narrower than bracts. Flowers subsessile, relatively small. Calyx tube shortly pilose, rarely subglabrous; lobes usually deltoid-triangular or rounded, less than 2 mm long, green, with sparse, short hairs. Petals short-pilose on most of back (outside), white or dull purple, keel apex ± purplish. Standard blade ovate, 6-8.5 x 4.5-7 mm. Wing blades usually 5-6.5 x 2-2.3 mm. Keel blades 3.5-4.5 x 1.7-2.7 mm. Pistil short-pubescent on distal half of ovary. Pod 3.5-4 x ±2.5 mm.