Shrubby, usually with a single slightly woody stem and numerous ascending branches above, up to 1–3 m tall; branches ± densely covered with rather long fine subappressed to somewhat spreading hairs. Leaves estipulate, shortly petiolate, 3-foliolate; leaflets 1.5–2.5(4) × 0.4–0.7(1.3) cm, oblanceolate, ± rounded and apiculate, ± densely silky pubescent beneath. Racemes mostly terminal, shortly pedunculate, with 5–12 laxly or (in West Africa) rather closely arranged flowers; bracts 4–8 mm long, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate; bracteoles inserted on the pedicel, linear or filiform. Calyx 7–9 mm long, densely silky pubescent; upper lobes attenuate-triangular, 2–3 times as long as the tube. Standard subcircular, dull yellow, often tinged reddish, rather densely pubescent outside; wings brighter yellow, ± as long as the keel; keel 7–9 mm long, strongly rounded, with a broad slightly incurved beak very shortly twisted at the tip. Pod 2.5–3 cm long, subsessile, cylindrical, densely covered with fine mostly spreading hairs, c. 20-seeded. Seeds c. 3 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, dark brown.
