A shrub or small tree up to 3(—6) m tall, branches terete, lenticellate, glabrescent, young parts (4—)6—7-gonous. Leaves 3-foliolate, petiole (1—)2—5(—6) cm long, stipules early caducous, leaflets elliptical to broadly ovate, base obtuse to acute, apex obtuse to acute, continuously appressed-sericeous when young, upper surface glabrescent, lower surface remaining covered with appressed fine hairs, terminal leaflet 5—14(—17) cm x (2.5—)3.5—7(—8.5) cm, lateral leaflets 3—11 cm x 1.5—6 cm. Axillary inflorescence shortly peduncled or long racemose, 10—20-flowered, primary bracts 2—2.5 mm x 1—1.5 mm, early caducous; calyx 4—5 mm long, corolla white, standard obovate or elliptical, wings narrowly elliptical, keel petals much broader than the wings, androecium 8.5—10 mm long, gynoecium 14—15 mm long, ovary densely appressed-sericeous. Pod sessile or slightly stalked, narrowly oblongoid, 3—5(—8)-jointed, rarely 1-seeded by abortion, glabrescent, both sutures not thickened, upper suture slightly undulate, lower suture undulate and constricted between the seeds, articles in outline broadly elliptical-oblong to oblong, (5—)7—8(—10) mm x 3.5—5 mm.

Astringent (leaves); drunk locally as a general tonic (decoction of the leaves).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used to treat scaly skin (leaves); to massage an enlarged spleen caused by malaria (crushed leaves and shoots); used as an ingredient of a post-partum medicine used by women after childbirth (young leaves); to treat gonorrhoea and irregular menstruation (decoction of flowers).