Aspalathus nivea Thunb.

A copiously branched shrub 1-2.5(-3) m tall, branched almost from the base (basally up to 20 mm thick). Young branches densely and smoothly white-puberulous (-velutinous). Leaflets (7-)12-25 mm long, ±0.6 mm broad (thick), soft, densely silvery sericeous. Inflorescence on a (5-)20-35 mm long, sericeous peduncle arising from a (short-)shoot, the basal internodes of which are ± suppressed (i.e. the peduncles arise from leaf fascicles). Flower at end of peduncle, not subtended by vegetative leaves. Bract 1.8-4.5 x ±0.5 mm, weak, obtuse, short-sericeous. Pedicel 1.2-2 mm long, sericeous. Bracteoles 1-3.5(-4) mm long. Calyx tube infundibular-campanulate, with short, silvery-sericeous pubescence; lobes sharply demarcated from tube, linear, (0.7-)1.3-3.5 mm long, silvery-sericeous. Standard blade 8-11.5 x 5-7.5(-8.5) mm, subacute or acute, apically slightly incurved. Wing blades 5-7.8 x 2.2-3.4 mm. Keel blades 6.8-8.5 x 3.5-4.6 mm, short-sericeous on lower half or more, upper margins nearly straight, basal pouch distinct. Pistil: ovary and basal third of style sericeous. Pod 13.5-18 x 4-5.6 mm.