Aspalathus asparagoides subsp. asparagoides old stems

The leaves of Aspalathus asparagoides subsp. asparagoides are tufted or crowded at the tips of small stems.

Lower down tufts appear to spiral on the stems and lose leaves. In hard times and old age, sometimes the same thing, the leaves turn brown and drop off (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; JSTOR).