A deciduous, medium-sized tree, 5-25 m tall, trunk reaching 60 cm in diameter; crown spreading; bark whitish; trunk and branches armed with stout prickles, in cultivation mostly unarmed. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; stipules orbicular, small, caducous; rachis 10-21 cm long, inclusive of the petiole of 8-16 cm which is thickened at the base; petiolule up to 7 mm long; stipels 2, below the lateral leaflets, stipitate, cup-like, glandular, 2 mm long; leaflets ovate-triangular- rhomboid, terminal one largest and 8-16 cm x 6-14 cm, base rounded or cordate, apex acuminate, glabrous. Inflorescence racemose, in the upper leaf axils, 5-23 cm long, brownish-tomentose; flowers many, arranged in groups of 3; peduncle terete, robust, 3-15 cm long, pubescent; pedicel 2- 3 mm long, in fruit up to 6 mm; calyx campanulate, 1-1.5 cm long, splitting open up to halfway down, tomentose, yellow-green; petals 5, red; standard broadly elliptical, shortly clawed, 2.5-4 cm x 2-3 cm, scarlet, at base inside with numerous white stripes; wings as long as the keel or slightly longer, about 1.5 cm long, pale red with a blackish upper margin; stamens 10, 3-3.5 cm long, monadelphous but vexillary stamen slightly shorter than other ones and only connate for the lower 0.5-1 cm, pinkish red; pistil with hairy ovary. Pod flat, curved, 10-15 cm long, on a slender stalk 3-4.5 cm long, lower part seedless and 2-2.5 cm wide, upper part thicker, 1-1.5 cm wide and 1-5-seeded, septate between the seeds, dehiscent. Seed ellipsoid, 7-18 mm x 5-11 mm, smooth, dull black.

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used to treat spleen afflictions (decoction of bark); used as a poultice for women soon after giving birth and against headache (pounded young leaves); as an eye-wash (juice of leaves); is given for coughs (decoction of leaves).