Aspalathus tridentata L.

An erect or ascending-spreading shrub or shrublet of variable size and habit, generally 0.3-0.9 m tall, moderately branched. Young branches usually sericeous or tomentose, sometimes sparingly so to glabrescent. Leaves trifoliolate; those on long-shoots on an inconspicuous leaf base or often at the base of an either simple or ternate woody, glabrous spur or spine 1-5 mm long. Leaflets linear or oblanceolate, those of long-shoot leaves generally 3-25 x 0.5-5 mm, acute, acuminate or obtuse, weak and flexible, from glabrous or sparsely sericeous to densely silvery sericeous, with indistinct veins. Inflorescence a terminal group or head of 2-12 or more flowers, radiating from ± the same point, subtended by an involucre formed by the bracts of the flowers. Bract lanceolate to ovate, very variable in size, 4-11 x (1.8-)2.5-7 mm, acute-acuminate, weak, ± sericeous, pale on basal and central parts, sometimes recurved. Pedicel lacking. Bracteoles linear or lanceolate, 4-12 x 0.2-1.5. Calyx narrowly campanulate, pale, sericeous; lobes very narrowly triangular to linear, 3-9 mm long, weak, ± sericeous, sometimes recurved. Petals pale or light yellow, sometimes with dark streaks on standard centre, ± sericeous on back (or outer side), the claws ± half as long as the blades or less. Standard blade ovate, acute, 9-13 x 3.5-6.5 mm, sericeous on most of the back and in some forms also on the marginal parts of the front. Wing blades elongate, 9-13 x 2.5-3.5 mm, with straight or slightly concave upper margin, sericeous on most parts. Pistil sericeous on ovary and style base; ovules (4-)6. Ripe pods not seen.