Shrub 0.2–0.5 (–1) m high, intricate. Branchlets appressed-puberulous, sometimes spinose. Axillary spines 1 per node, 3–18 mm long. Leaves sometimes reflexed; pinnae 1 pair, 2–5 mm long; petiole absent; pinnules 2–4 pairs, normally obovate to narrowly oblong-obovate, 2–5 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, glaucous to subglaucous, glabrous to subglabrous; gland within axil of pinnae, stipitate, c. 0.5 mm long. Inflorescences simple, situated on upper half of axillary spine; peduncles 4–8 mm long, appressed-puberulous; heads globular, 13–25-flowered. Flowers 5-merous; sepals ½–¾-united. Pods 3–8 cm long, 7–12 mm wide, slightly pruinose, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal to oblique, sometimes transverse, elliptic to circular, turgid, 3–4 mm long.