Lotononis pungens

Lotononis pungens, the pungent prostrate pea and in Afrikaans the opslag-ertjie (regrowth pea), is a low-growing shrublet that typically trails, reaching heights up to 20 cm.

The alternate leaves with solitary stipules at each node are three-foliolate. Leaflets are more linear or lanceolate than obovate, folding in along their midribs and tapering to acutely pointed tips. Leaflets are stalkless while the leaves have stalks. A sparse covering of long, silvery hairs is visible upon the leaflets. Leaf colour is dark green, sometimes brownish green to even purplish green; the discolouring may occur on the upper margins only.

The distribution in the Little Karoo and Eastern Cape extends over the Langeberg near Swellendam and the Gouritz River. This plant was seen in the veld near Oudtshoorn.

Plants grow among karoid hill scrub. The species is not considered threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iSpot; http://redlist.sanbi.org).