Perennial herb or shrub, with tuberous root; stem prostrate and trailing or climbing, up to 6 m long, herbaceous or woody below, young parts rusty-tomentose or rusty-hairy, with axillary forked tendrils (2–)3–6.5(–9.5) mm long. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules 2–4 mm × 2 mm, persistent; petiole (2–)3–10(–20) cm long; blade bilobed for up to one-third (sometimes up to half) its length, (5–)7–13(–20) cm × (4–)8–15(–24) cm, base deeply cordate, lobes ovate to obovate, sometimes rounded, subglabrous to densely rusty pubescent beneath. Inflorescence a lateral raceme 5–45 cm long; peduncle (2–)4–12(–18) cm long. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous, heterostylous; pedicel (1.5–)2–4.5(–6) cm long; sepals 1–1.5(–2.5) cm × 3–4 mm, with upper 2 completely united and the other 3 free; petals unequal, 4 (larger ones) obovate-circular, (1.5–)2–4(–4.5) cm × 1–3 cm and tapering into a basal claw, the upper one much smaller, yellow, sometimes fading to pink; stamens 2, free, with filaments 10–18 mm long, staminodes 8, with filaments 3–6 mm long; ovary superior, 5–6 mm long, 1-celled, pubescent, style elongate, stigma small. Fruit an obovoid to oblong-ovoid pod 5–12 cm × 3–7.5 cm, flattened, woody, 1–2-seeded. Seeds ellipsoid to globose, somewhat compressed, 1.5–3 cm × 1–2 cm, chestnut-brown to black.

Galactogogue (root)

PROTAbase: Tylosema fassoglense

The root decoctions are taken against gastrointestinal problems, anaemia, fever and pneumonia, and to heal the uterus after childbirth. The pulverized tuber is taken for the treatment of venereal diseases. The leaf sap is applied to treat inflammations of the middle ear. Infusions of powdered flowers are drunk against jaundice and hypertension. A decoction of the roots and flowers is drunk to treat impotence.