Annual herbs; stems erect, up to 13 dm long, ridged, appressed short-pubescent. Leaves simple, oblanceolate, 3.3-9.2 cm long, 1-3.8 cm wide, veins 5-8 on each side of midvein, upper surface glabrous and punctate, lower surface appressed short-pubescent, apex rounded or occasionally acute, usually retuse, base cuneate, petioles up to 3 mm long, stipules narrowly rhombic-ovate, up to 0.5 mm long. Flowers 17-24 mm long, 13-23 in terminal, somewhat lax inflorescences, rachis up to 27 cm long (incl. peduncle), bracts narrowly triangular, 2-2.5 mm long, recurved, usually persistent, bracteoles at or above mid-pedicel, narrowly triangular; calyx appressed short-pubescent, the tube 4.5-6.5 mm long, the lobes 5.5-10 mm long, lateral lobes distinct at apex; petals yellow with fine purple lines near base, standard 14-18 mm long, 17-25 mm wide, wings oblong-lanceolate, 13-15 mm long, 9-11 mm wide, keel petals short, beak twisted, margins ciliate; elongated anthers 2.8-3.1 mm long, short ones 0.8-1 mm long. Pods dark brown to black at maturity, 3-4 cm long, nonstipitate, glabrous. Seeds 23 per pod, tan to brown, up to 4.5 mm long, smooth.

Antitumor (plant)

PIER

Indican (leaf); monocrotaline, retusin (plant)

For impetigo and scabies (plant)

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.