Aspalathus rigidifolia R.Dahlgren

Ascending or erect, occasionally low and nearly matted shrub, ±0.05-1 m tall, closely or sparingly branched, with spreading branches densely beset with prickly leaves. Young branches white-villous; short-shoot tubercles semi-globose, villous. Leaflets spreading, linear, needle-like, 4-11(1-14) mm long, and 0.4-0.8 mm thick, subterete, straight, rigid, glabrous, pale green to glaucous, ending in a 0.3-1.2 mm long, sharp spine. Flowers solitary or in pairs, either on tips of very short branchlets or on lateral short-shoots. Bract triangular-subulate, 0.2-1.2 mm long. Pedicel (0.6-)1-5(-7) mm long, glabrous, slender. Bracteoles shorter than 0.7 mm. Calyx campanulate, smooth, glabrous; lobes broadly to narrowly triangular, (0.8-)1.2-3 mm long, acute or acuminate. Petals pale yellow or ± purple, at least on standard and keel. Standard blade (4.2-)5.5-8 x (4.5-)4.8-7.5 mm, rounded apically, sericeous on the back except on the basal marginal parts. Wing blades (3.7-)4.2-6.5 x (1.3-)2.4-3.2 mm, glabrous (or with a few hairs on lower parts). Keel blades (3.8-)4.5-6.7 x (1.3-)2.4-3.2 mm, glabrous or often puberulous on lower parts; upper margins slightly concave. Pistil glabrous (or somewhat hairy on basal upper parts of the ovary); ovules 2-5. Pod lanceolate, (8.2-)9.5-15(-18) x (3.7-)4-5.5 mm, glabrous or subglabrous, pale violet, grey or greenish.