Aspalathus variegata Eckl. & Zeyh.

An erect or ascending shrublet 0.15-0.4 m tall with slender branches; young branches tomentose; axillary short-shoots usually not developed in leaf axils of young branches. Leaflets linear, (1-)3-5 mm long, subterete, broadest distally, ± straight, acute. Inflorescence of 1-4 flowers, if more than 1 then radiating from nearly one point. Bract attached to the pedicel (emerging near the calyx), linear-subulate, 4-5 mm, acute. Pedicel rather slender, ±4 mm long, short-tomentose. Bracteoles similar to the bract. Calyx campanulate; tube sparsely puberulous; lobes triangular, 1.5-2 mm long, acute, subglabrous. Petals almost glabrous. Standard blade 6-7 x 4-4.5 mm, with a few hairs along the midrib of the back only. Wing blades narrowly elliptic-ovate, ±6 x 2.7 mm. Keel blades lunate, ±6 x 3 mm, glabrous, obtuse, with rather prominent, rounded basal-upper lobe and with prominent basal pouch. Pistil glabrous; ovules 4. Pod lanceolate, 9-10 x ±3 mm, rather thin-walled, pale brown.