Small tree or shrub, sometimes scandent with aid of modified tendril-like branches, 1.8–5 m. tall; bark grey, striate, ultimately rough. Branchlets covered at first with short yellowish or brown mostly crisped or spreading hairs, glabrescent. Leaves 7.5–12.5 cm. long; stipules oblong, pointed, 4–7 mm. long, caducous; lateral leaflets 2–4 on either side, elliptic-oblong to elliptic-obovate, 2.5–6 cm. long, 1.6–3 cm. wide, rounded to emarginate at apex (sometimes slightly acuminate in southern Africa), cuneate to rounded at base, glabrous or practically so above, appressed pubescent to subglabrous beneath; primary lateral nerves well spaced (± 6–10 on either side of midrib) in East Africa varying to rather closely spaced (± 10–14) in South Africa; venation laxly reticulate, becoming prominent above. Panicles terminal and axillary on leafy branches, laxly branched, 4–10(–20) cm. long, many-flowered; axes thinly pubescent to tomentellous; bracts elliptic, 0.75–1.5 mm. long, somewhat persistent; bracteoles at top of very short pedicel (less than 1 mm. long) similar. Calyx 3–4.5 mm. long, puberulous at least on lobes. Corolla (5–)6–8 mm. long, white, fragrant; standard oblong-obovate, rather abruptly contracted to claw, glabrous; wings shorter than standard and shorter to a little longer than keel. Stamens 9–10, united. Pod narrowly oblong to oblong-elliptic (particularly in South Africa), pointed, with 0.5–0.8 cm. long stipe 4–9 cm. long, 1–1.8 cm. wide, thickened, darker and very prominently veined over seed-cavity, yellowish pubescent, venose, 1–3-seeded.