Compilation
Aspalathus alpestris

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Name

Identification
Aspalathus alpestris (Benth.) R.Dahlgren [family LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Dahlgren, R., Borbonia pungens Mundt ex Benth. [family LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE ] Borbonia monosperma DC. [family LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE ]
Related name
  • Borbonia monosperma
  • Aspalathus alpestris
  • Borbonia trinervia
  • Borbonia pungens
  • Borbonia alpestris
  • Borbonia parviflora

Flora

Entry for Aspalathus alpestris [family FABACEAE]
Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Aspalathus alpestris [family FABACEAE]
Common names
Borbonia alpestris Benth. in Hooker, Lond. J. bot. 2: 461 (1843); Harv., Fl. Cap. 2: 29 (1862); Phill. in S. Afr. J. Sci. 16:407(1920). Borbonia pungens Mund ex Benth. in Hooker, Lond. J. Bot. 2: 461 (1843). Type: 'Borbonia monosperma\ sine loco, Drege (K, lecto.!; S). The name 'Borbonia mono-sperma Cand.' was incorrectly used for this specimen in E. Mey.,Comm. 1: 15(1836). 'Borbonia trinervia' auct. non L. in Thunb., Prodr. 2: 122 (1800); Diss. Bot. Borbonia: 4 (1811); Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 2: 164 (1836); Walp. in Linnaea 13: 468 (1839); Harv., Fl. Cap. 2: 28 (1862); Phill. in S. Afr. J. Sci. 16: 401 (1920). Linnaeus (Sp. PI., 707, 1753) based this on a name in Hort. Cliff.: 494 (1739), which refers to a speci­men of Cliffortia ruscifolia L. (herbarium Clifford, BM).
Information
An (erect-) ascending or decumbent to prostrate shrublet with spreading branches up to 0,5 (-1) m long, slender or weak to strong and rigid. Young branches ferruginous, glabrous, subterete or ± compressed. Leaves flat, simple (unifoliolate), linear-lanceolate (ovate), 10-20(-32) x l,2-5,5(-8) mm, rigid, hard, sharply spine-tipped, glabrous, (yellowish-) green to glaucous, with 3-9 prominent longitu­dinal veins (beside marginal ones). Inflores­cence unifloral or a sparse raceme with up to 6 flowers on a glabrous inflorescence axis which is the continuation of a ± peduncle-like inter-node 3-35 mm long. Bract subulate-acicular, (0,6-) 3,5-6,5 x 0,3-0,9 mm, rigid, ± spine-like, glabrous. Pedicel 1,2-2,5 (-3) mm long, glabrous. Bracteoles l-5,5(-6,5) mm long. Calyx tube infundibular-campanu­late, glabrous; lobes triangular-subulate, l,4-3,5(-4,5) mm long, sharply spine-tipped, glabrous. Petals light or bright yellow. Stand­ard blade broadly obovate or almost circular, 6,2-7,5(-8) X 6-8,5 mm, rounded to retuse (often with a short ktip'), short-sericeous on the back. Wing blades narrowly ovate-elliptic, 5-6,5(-7) x 2,4-3,5 mm. Keel blades 4,5-6 x 2,5-3,5 mm, apically slightly up-curved, with concave upper margin. Pistil gla­brous; ovary elongate, with 6-10 ovules; style upcurved. Pod lanceolate or linear, 18-27 x 3,5-4,5 mm, glabrous, smooth. Chromosome number. 2n= 18. Figure 28: 1-15.
Habitat
The species is very variable in habit, floral size and length of bracts, calyx lobes and pods. Forms in the Mon­tagu-Robertson-Worcester Divisions may become suberect, with stiff, coarse branches, and broad leaves with 7-11 veins. Most other forms are lower and have narrower, fewer-veined leaves, the easternmost forms being decum­bent and weak and having slender branches. Very small-flowered is a form in Kruisvallei in the Uniondale Division CBorbonia trinervia).
Use
59. Aspalathus alpestris (Benth.) Dahlg. in Op. bot. Soc. bot. Lund 9 (1): 270, 210 (1963); ibid. 22: 40 (1968). Type: Cape, Koghman's Kloof, Montagu Division, Mund 79 (K,lecto.!).
Range
A. alpestris has a surprisingly scattered distribution and has been collected in the Caledon, Bredasdorp, Worcester, Robertson, Swellendam, Montagu, Ceres, Laingsburg, Riversdale, Mossel Bay and Uniondale Divi­sions, without being common in any region. The type was recorded from 'subalpine bushy places near Koghman's Kloof, which is the reason for its specific name, but this is misleading: the species occurs mainly on shaley, clayey ground, the rocks being frequently of the Bokkeveld Series. It is often associated with renosterbos but also with general fynbos elements. Map 25.

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