Aspalathus aspalathoides acquiring and sharing nitrogen

Many Aspalathus aspalathoides ring-shaped inflorescences are close to concurrent at the stem-tips of this small plant seen near Hermanus. Thriving in white gravel, quartzitic sands where few species do well, the little legume fixes nitrogen in its root nodules, primarily for its own benefit. Over time some of the nitrogen leaks into the surrounding soil, where other plants eventually use it.

This is a capability and a shared benefit of the plant in the extremely nutrient‑poor fynbos soils. Without legumes, the fynbos would be even more nutrient‑impoverished than it already is (Manning, 2007; iNaturalist; https://academic.oup.com).