Aspalathus acuminata subsp. acuminata stem-tip spines

The upper stems of Aspalathus acuminata subsp. acuminata end in leafless spines, orange-yellow on the young branchlets in picture. Dense clusters of small, trifoliolate leaves grow on the small branches. Yellow flowers appear in groups of one to five on upper branchlets throughout the year, apart from early winter. 

This shrub grows on fynbos slopes and in other habitats of some Western Cape mountains and hills.

There is more on this plant in the Aspalathus Album (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Andrew, 2017; iNaturalist; www.fernkloof.org.za).