Aspalathus subtingens Eckl. & Zeyh.

An ascending to erect, rarely decumbent shrublet, (0.15-)0.3-1(-1.8) m tall, sparsely or rather densely branched. Young branches short-tomentose or puberulous, often densely leafy. Leaflets linear or sausage-shaped, (2-)3-6(-8) mm long, 0.4-0.6 mm thick, terete, obtuse or acute, often slightly incurved, weak, glabrous, usually ferruginous when dry. Inflorescences unifloral or bifloral, on lateral short-shoots, distributed along the branches in sometimes considerable number. Flowers rather small. Bract accreted to the pedicel base for 0.5 mm or more; minute, subulate, 0.2-0.5 mm long, puberulous. Pedicel (0.4-)0.8-2.2(-2.8) mm long, short-pubescent. Bracteoles 0.1-0.5 mm long. Calyx tube campanulate, glabrous; lobes triangular or tooth-like, 0.2-1(-1.5) mm long, acute, green, glabrous. Petals yellow, soon turning orange-red, ferruginous or bright to dark red. Standard blade broadly ovate, 4.5-6(-6.6) x (3.1-)3.5-4.5(-5.3) mm, apically incurved and acute, glabrous (except for some basal pubescence); the sides often firmly incurved. Wing blades narrowly (rectangular-) elliptic, 3-4.7 x 1.2-2.1 mm, glabrous, with 4-5 rows of minute folds on the basal upper parts. Keel blades 4-5.2 x 1.8-2.6 mm, glabrous. Pistil pubescent on upper half (or less) of the ovary and style base; ovules 2. Pod broadly triangular-lanceolate, (5-)6.5-9 x (2.2-)3-4 mm, smooth, sparsely pubescent on basal and upper parts.