Psoralea aphylla

When not in flower Psoralea aphylla looks like this. Branches that drooped in season with blooms may retain the stance when the load has been relieved. This plant was seen on the Fernkloof slope in off-season rest. In winter this part of the slope becomes quite saturated with water, a favoured site for this plant. In summer it copes with waiting for rain, being blessed with tiny leaves that do not allow much moisture to escape.

From a distance the small, scale-like leaves are not noticed, doing justice to the specific epithet of leaflessness in aphylla. The Afrikaans common name of kaalfonteinbos (bare fountain bush) is also fitting for this bare-looking plant (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Bean and Johns, 2005).