Aspalathus cephalotes subsp. violaceae

Aspalathus cephalotes is an erect or spreading shrub reaching heights between 50 cm and 2 m.

The distribution of A. cephalotes is in the southwest of the Western Cape from the Cape Peninsula to Piketberg, Worcester and Caledon. The habitat is lower fynbos slopes.

There are three subspecies, viz. subsp. cephalotes, subsp. violacea and subsp. obscuriflora. Subsp. violacea grows at least in the Cape Peninsula and the mountains near Wellington. This photo of it was taken on the Paardeberg near Riebeek West.

None of the subspecies is considered to be threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2007; iSpot; www.redlist.sanbi.org).