Aspalathus aspalathoides heads

This modest Aspalathus aspalathoides stem-tip inflorescence consists of only five flowers neatly in a circle pointing outwards. There are no visible buds to follow once these turn to fruit. Much silvery to white hairiness occurs here on all floral parts, both outside and inside, not only on the keel.

The pointed banner petal at the top curves back. The paired, straight wings point forward in each flower. They are slightly apart, showing the shorter keel between them. All the floral parts are yellow once open, the hairs sometimes dominant, suggesting white rather than yellow.

The younger head, upper on the side in picture is both smaller and its flowers still green in bud with pointed bracts larger in five-pointed, angular formation. The stems are sparsely leaved and colour varying with age.

The photo was taken near Sir Lowry’s Pass during October (Marais, (Ed.), 2017; Manning, 2007; iNaturalist).