Compact shrub or small tree 1–4.5 m. high, sometimes low and spreading, or even scandent. Young branchlets puberulous and with very many minute brown glands. Prickles scattered, deflexed, arising from longitudinal bands along the wholly blackish-brown stems. Leaves: petiole 0.5–1.2 cm. long; pinnae 10–19 pairs, 0.6–3.5 cm. long; leaflets very numerous and neat, linear-oblong, 0.3–0.75 mm. wide; midrib subcentral at base. Flowers white, in heads about 8–10 mm. in diameter, often irregularly paniculate. Stipules at base of peduncles small, 0.3–0.5 mm. wide, inconspicuous, soon caducous, not subcordate at base. Calyx-lobes with many minute brown glands outside (use × 20 lens). Pods (Fig. 15/23, p. 66) subcoriaceous or stiffly papery, oblong, dehiscent, 6.5–14 cm. long, 1.6–3.6 cm. wide, puberulous or glabrous and with very many minute brown glands. Seeds black, smooth, elliptic, compressed, 8–9 mm. long, 5.5–6 mm. wide; areole 5–6 mm. long, 2.5–3 mm. wide.
