Perennial herb up to 45 cm tall with woody rootstock and prostrate or decumbent stems, occasionally more or less erect; branches hairy. Leaves alternate, paripinnately compound with usually 13–24 pairs of leaflets; stipules lanceolate; petiole with a stalked or almost sessile gland, rachis channelled; leaflets sessile, obliquely linear, asymmetrical, up to 10 mm × 2 mm, apex rounded, apiculate. Inflorescence an extra-axillary raceme, usually 1-flowered. Flowers bisexual, nearly regular, 5-merous; pedicel up to 20 mm long; sepals acute, slightly shorter then petals; petals obovate, 4–7 mm long, yellow; stamens 10; ovary superior, 1-celled. Fruit an erect compressed pod 3–4.5 cm × c. 4 mm, glabrous to shortly hairy. Seeds rhombic-ellipsoid, c. 3 mm long, pale brown with dark brown spots.

PROTabase: Chamaecrista biensis

The raw or boiled root is eaten to cure stomach disorders.