Annual herb, trailing or suberect, branched; leaves alternate, stipulate, trifoliate, leaflets membranous, ovate, 2.5 to 5.0 cm long, young ones finely pilose; flowers axillary, may be more than one together but without a common peduncle, papilionaceous, usually yellow - may be white, 1.25 to 1.8 cm long; pods 3.7 to 5.0 cm by 0.6 to 0.8 cm, recurved, tipped with a persistent style; seeds 5 to 6 per pod, ellipsoid, flattened.

Its seed powder is antidiaphoretic and seed work as anthelmintic, alleviates spasms and influences respiration (50% EtOH seed extract).

Four glycosidases (seed)

Measles, smallpox, burns, sores and tumors (plant); menstrual problems (plant decoction); kidney stones (seed). Ayurveda uses decoction of seed in leucorrhoea, menstrual troubles, bleeding during pregnancy, colic caused by wind, piles, rheumatism, heamorrhagic disease and for intestinal worms. Soup prepared from seeds is beneficial in enlarged liver and spleen. Tribal practices use the parts of the plant for dysuria, sores, tumours, burns, adenitis, fistula ani, intercostal neuralgia, pleurisy, piles, hiccups, abdominal lump, bronchial asthma,pneumonia, prolapsus ani, menstrual complaints, piles, colic, epistaxis, flatulence, ophthalmia, ulcers,urinary troubles and kidney stone.

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