Lessertia species are mainly Flowers>Perennial Flower Seeds with a few annuals in the Fabaceae family. The genus consists of erect, prostrate or decumbent herbs and shrubs. It has compound or rarely unifoliate leaves, paired stipules, an elongated or subcapitate raceme, paired bracts. All these features are similar to Sutherlandia. The group differs from Sutherlandia in flower and fruit. In Lessertia flowers are small and they range from 6-10 mm long. They are pink, yellow or purple in colour. Fruits are linear, compressed or subcompressed and few are inflated. In Sutherlandia (cancer bush group), flowers are very big, red in colour about 15 to 30 mm long. Fruits are also big, inflated and bladder-like in form. The name of the genus Lessertia was established in 1802 and it was named in honour of Benjamin Delessert, a Frenchman who edited the Icones selectae (1820-1846).

Lessertia pauciflora is a widespread South African indigenous species found in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape provinces that also extends into Namibia and Botswana. Lessertia pauciflora is a perennial herbaceous shrub growing 30 to 40cm high. It is usually found growing in short grassland and on dry stream beds. It bears cream flowers that are tinged with purple. These are followed by flat pods. It is said to be a medicinally valued plant that are also commonly browsed by livestock.