Seven new species and notes on the genus Aspalathus (Crotalarieae, Fabaceae)

•Seven new species of Aspalathus are described from the Western Cape (3 species), Eastern Cape (2 species) and KwaZulu Natal (2 species) Provinces of South Africa.•Full descriptions, illustrations and conservation status assessments are provided.•Six of the species are narrowly distributed and have conservation status including critically endangered (1 species), endangered (2 species), vulnerable (3 species).•An identification key for all KwaZulu Natal Aspalathus species is provided

Seven species of Aspalathus from South Africa are described as new. Two of the species are from the KwaZulu-Natal Province (Aspalathus dahlgrenii C.H.Stirt. & Muasya; A. spinifera C.H.Stirt. & Muasya), two are from the Eastern Cape Province (A. modesta C.H.Stirt. & Muasya; A. usnoides C.H.Stirt. & Muasya), and the other three from the Western Cape Province (A. eriocephaloides C.H.Stirt. & Muasya; A. eustonbrownii C.H.Stirt. & Muasya; A. nickhelmei C.H.Stirt. & Muasya). An identification key is provided to all of the species found in KwaZulu-Natal Province. New distribution records are added for, and conservation statuses re-assessed of the rare and little known species, Aspalathus macrocarpa Eckl. & Zeyh. and A. barbigera R. Dahlgren.