A perennial, decumbent, pubescent herb, branches 0.5—1.8 m long, tips ascending. Longer leaves up to 7 cm long, with 6—9 pairs of leaflets, shorter leaves up to 6 cm long with 3—5 pairs of leaflets, midrib ending in a mucro, 0.5—2 mm long; leaflets 6—22 mm x 2.5—9 mm, base obliquely rounded, apex subacute, both surfaces silky, subsessile, stipules falcate, 3—6 mm long, acuminate. Pedicel 2—4 cm long, sepals narrowly lanceolate, 7—11 mm long, apex acute, appressed hairy, caducous, petals obovate-cuneate, 1—2 cm x 1—1.5 cm, apex broadly rounded-truncate, bright yellow, stamens subequal, anthers 1 mm long. Cocci 4—5, spines stout, sharp, 2 lateral ones largest, pericarp rather thick, corky, seeds 1—4 in each coccus.

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used to treat colds, malaria and infections of kidney and bladder (plant); given to children to relieve toothache (decoction of roots).