Subshrubs or small shrubs with well-developed rootstocks. Leaves unifoliolate, frequently developing after the flowers have appeared; petioles nearly always conspicuously winged, often so much so as to appear like a second lower leaf-blade, rarely not winged; stipules striate, ciliate; stipels present. Inflorescences on leafy or leafless snoots, terminal or axillary, falsely racemose or paniculate; primary and secondary bracts present; bracteoles absent; flowers readily disarticulating with their pedicels. Calyx 5-lobed, 2-lipped; upper lip ± bifid, composed of 2 teeth connate for most of their length; lower lip prominently trifid, the central lobe the longest. Corolla mostly medium-sized, white to purple; standard rounded, produced into a claw at the base, sometimes puberulous outside when young; wings clawed, transversely rugose inside, usually shorter than the other petals; keel usually as long as the standard. Vexillary filament free at base and apex but connate with the main tube for one-third to half of its length; free parts of the filaments dissimilar, 4 short and filiform, 5 much dilated, longer and pincer-shaped at insertion of the anther; anthers uniform. Intrastaminal disc short. Ovary stipitate, 2–many-ovuled; style filiform but slightly stiffened, curved, glabrous above the narrowed hairy apex of the ovary; stigma terminal, capitate. Pods usually markedly stipitate (the stipe often plumose), 1–several-jointed, silky pubescent. Seeds compressed-reniform; hilum minute, without appendages.