Shrub 1–6 m high, obconical, branching from base, or sometimes a tree with a distinct trunk; young branchlets grey to brown, shortly puberulous. Stipular spines (in Somalia) all short, hooked, up to 6 mm long. Leaves: pinnae 1–3 pairs; leaflets 5–11 pairs, 2–4.5 x 0.5–1.25 mm. Flowers whitish, in heads; involucel basal or in lower third of peduncle. Pods straight, dehiscent, 3–6.5(–8.8) x 0.6–1.2 cm, brown or deep purplish, finely longitudinally veined, ± puberulous to glabrous or nearly so. Seeds mostly elliptic, compressed, 5–7.5 x 4–5 mm; areole 4–4.5 x 2.5–3 mm.
