Shrubs or very rarely small trees. Stipules small, caducous or persistent and spinelike. Leaves paripinnate with rachis often extending beyond last leaflet pair or rachis reduced and leaves apparently digitate, 4-20-foliolate; petiole and rachis persistent or caducous, when persistent often becoming woody and spinelike; leaflet blades with margin entire, apex often cuspidate. Flowers axillary, usually solitary but sometimes 2-5 in a fascicle. Pedicel articulate; bracteoles absent or 1 to many. Calyx tubular or campanulate; teeth 5, adaxial 2 usually smaller, base saccate or not. Corolla yellow, rarely purple, pinkish, or white; standard sometimes pale yellow or orangish red; wings and keel often auriculate. Stamens diadelphous (9+1). Ovary subsessile, rarely with a distinct carpopodium; ovules many. Legume cylindric or compressed, sessile or rarely stipitate.
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