Erect subshrub 0.2–1.8 m. tall. Stems scabrid with short hairs. Lower leaves 1–3-foliolate, upper 5–9-foliolate; leaflets of lower leaves ovate, 2–8 cm. long, 2–3.2 cm. wide, of upper leaves ovate-lanceolate, 7–25 cm. long, 0.5–2.5(–4) cm. wide, subacute and mucronulate at the apex, rounded at the base, often variegated, glabrescent and shining above, scabrid and strongly reticulate beneath. Inflorescences with a rhachis 10–70 cm. long; peduncles 0–5 cm. long, scabrid; pedicels at first erect, later inflexed, 6–9 mm. long, covered with long deciduous hairs and denser short persistent hook-tipped hairs; bracts pinkish, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate-caudate, comose, 1.4–2.5 cm. long, 2–8 mm. wide, deciduous. Calyx-tube puberulous, 2 mm. long; lobes 2–3 and 4–5 mm. long, covered with long, white or brownish tubercular-based hairs. Corolla pink, bluish or reddish, glabrous; standard obovate, 8–9 mm. long, 5–6 mm. wide. Pods 5–9 mm. long, of 3–6 segments, each 2–3 mm. wide, shining, brown to blackish then whitish-grey. Seeds yellowish-brown, compressed, oblong-ellipsoid, longest dimension 2–2.5 mm., shorter dimension 1.5–2 mm., 0.8 mm. thick. Fig. 67.ZANZIBAR.SW. of Pemba, Panza I., 13 Feb. 1929, Greenway 1400 !
