Trees or shrubs. Leaves imparipinnate; stipules small; stipels lacking; lateral leaflets few, alternate to subopposite, often acuminate. Flowers in racemes, generally clustered on the old wood, sometimes amongst the leaves; bracts and bracteoles small; pedicels jointed. Hypanthium conical, at least half as long as calyx, with ovary inserted near base on upper side, sometimes slightly gibbous. Calyx continuing or at an angle to the fine of the hypanthium, tubular, very shortly and broadly lobed to subtruncate, usually torn to some extent as corolla opens, bearing petals and stamens on a rim at the base. Petals subequal in length, glabrous except sometimes on standard outside; standard elliptic to orbicular with a well-developed claw; wings asymmetrically lanceolate, not or scarcely auriculate at base of blade, free or lightly adnate to keel; keel-petals similar but narrower, free or lightly adnate. Stamens free; anthers subbasifixed. Ovary stipitate, ± 8–20-ovulate; style relatively short, bent upwards, glabrous on upper part, with a small terminal stigma. Fruit torulose, beaked, indehiscent. Seed: testa adhering to fruit wall; embryo detached and lying free within, oblong-ellipsoid or shortly cylindrical, with a very short straight radicle near one end.
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