Deep-rooting perennial herb with climbing or twining, hairy stems. Roots subtuberous. Main stems ca. 6 mm diameter, extending 4.5—10 m, rooting at nodes if in contact with moist soil, lateral stems branching from nodes; young shoots densely covered with brown hairs. Leaves large, trifoliolate, borne on hairy petioles 2—13 cm long; leaflets triangular or ovate, 2—20 cm x 2—15 cm, thin, base broadly cuneate or subrhomboidal and very shallowly lobed, apex acuminate, laterals oblique usually 6—7 cm long and wide, thinly hairy on upper surface, greyish-green and densely pubescent on lower surface; stipules small, lanceolate, ciliate with long brown hairs. Flowers small, mauve to deep purple, borne in scattered pairs on axillary racemes 15—30 cm long; peduncle about 13 cm long; bracteoles lanceolate, 1—3 mm long; calyx campanulate, 6 mm long, hairy, upper teeth broad, lateral ones triangular, the lower lanceolate and all terminating in a bristle; standard orbicular, 1—2 cm diameter, spurred, greenish on outside and white on the inner side with a mauve violet central blotch. Pod straight or slightly curved, terete or compressed cylindrical, 4—11 cm x 3—5 mm, thinly clothed with stiff appressed hairs, black when mature and containing 10—20 seeds. Seed oblong to squarish with rounded corners, about 3 mm x 2 mm, brown to brownish-black.

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation
Plants For A Future

Genistein (leaf diffusate)

A poultice of the plant is applied to ulcers and boils, especially in children. A decoction is also used internally.