Agathosma species nova (arida)

Agathosma species nova (arida) is a single-stemmed shrub branching and reaching heights of 50 cm. Its narrow, oblong to thread-like leaves with margins rolled under and bluntly pointed tips are finely hairy and pale green or purplish, ascending on the stems. The leaves exude a sweet scent when crushed. Leaves become 5 mm long and 2 mm wide.

The pink to violet, occasionally white spring flowers grow in small clusters at branch tips. The petals are spoon-shaped and spreading, shorter than the stamens with their long, straight filaments. The fruits are three-chambered.

The species is endemic to the central part of the Little Karoo. This plant was photographed south of Oudtshoorn. The habitat is arid fynbos and renosterveld (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iNaturalist; iSpot).