Athanasia trifurcata

Athanasia trifurcata, the klaaslouwbos, is a variable shrub growing erect branches from a single stem to heights from 60 cm to 1,5 m.

The A. trifurcata distribution is widespread from southern Namaqualand in the Northern Cape through the Western Cape coastally and the Little Karoo to the Eastern Cape as far as Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

The habitat is flats and rocky slopes among variable vegetation. It may invade fallow fields and patches of degraded and disturbed soil such as along roadsides. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

An Afrikaans common name, kouterbos (colter bush), originates from the trouble farmers experienced with the branches of this plant collecting on the colter of their ploughs, requiring them to stop and remove the plant debris. The colter is a sharp blade or wheel-like disc with sharp edge attached to the beam of a plough, acting as a cutter of the ground ahead of the ploughshare (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).