Aptosimum spinescens or “Kankerblarebossie” as it is commonly known is a much-branched spiny shrublet. It has stunning blue flowers with fawn on the reverse from spring to summer. It has a wide distribution range from parts of Namaqualand, Bushmanland, the Great Escarpment, the Northern, Upper, Great and Little Karoo, Northern Cape and Namibia. It often occurs in abundance on floodplains, flats, ridges, crowns, disturbed ground and mountain plains. The name Aptosimum is Greek in derivation, a meaning not and ptosimos meaning deciduous (which in turn comes from ptosis meaning ‘autumn’) and refers to the fruit, a capsule which is retained on the plant even after the seeds have been released. The plants are said to be of medicinal value and is are used to treat krimpsiekte in sheep, an acute and serious sickness that affects the joints, muscles and stomach, often resulting in starvation and ultimately death.