An erect subshrub, 0.5—2 m tall; branches terete, densely pubescent. Leaves pinnately compound, upper leaves 3—7-foliolate, lower ones 3-foliolate; petiole 10—13 cm long, pubescent; stipules free, about 1 cm long; stipels 3 mm long; leaflets ovate to lanceolate, 8—16 cm x 1.5—5.5 cm, apex acute, glabrous above, hairy beneath. Inflorescence a terminal, cylindrical, densely flowered raceme, (7—)12—30(—50) cm long; lower bracts empty, upper ones with 2 flowers, lanceolate, 10—20 mm x 3—6 mm; pedicel 3—15 mm long; with long bristles; calyx tube short, 2 upper teeth up to 6 mm long, 3 lower teeth up to 7 mm long; corolla purplish pink; standard obovate, 6—10 mm x 6—8 mm, glabrous; wings shorter than keel, clawed; keel 7—9 mm long, clawed; stamens 10, diadelphous. Pod 2—4(—7)-jointed, constricted between joints, indehiscent, shiny black, hairy. Seed reniform-globose, compressed, 1.5—2 mm in diameter, brown.

Anthelminthic and carminative (whole plant)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Different plant parts are used to cure dysentery, diarrhoea and in the treatment of enlarged spleen and liver. It is also applied against pustules, tumors and fistulae. The leaves are used to kill lice.