Trees, 7-10 m tall, with spreading branches, or occasionally climbers. Branches densely rusty puberulent. Leaves 12-17 cm; stipules very caducous, lanceolate, small; leaflets 9-13; petiolules 2-3 mm; blades narrowly ovate and acute when young, oblong and obtuse when mature, (2.5-)4-6 × 1.5-2 cm, lowest rather smaller than others, membranous, both surfaces initially silky pubescent, ultimately subglabrous adaxially, sparsely pubescent abaxially, base slightly unequal, apex rounded or emarginate. Panicles lateral, with corymbose branches, appearing shortly before leaves; peduncles, branches, rachis, and ca. 2 mm pedicels densely rusty pubescent. Flowers 6-8 mm; basal and epicalycine bracteoles lanceolate. Calyx campanulate, ca. 3 mm, outside rusty pubescent; teeth subequal, acute, upper pair rather wider than lower 3. Corolla purple or white (according to field notes); petals long clawed; standard orbicular, emarginate, reflexed; wings and keel with downward auricles on upper side below. Stamens 9, monadelphous. Ovary long stipitate, glabrous, 1-3-ovuled; style slender; stigma small. Legume distinctly stipitate, yellowish brown, ligulate-oblong, thin, (5-)7-9 × 1.5-2 cm, glabrous, acute and with an apiculate tip at apex when young, rounded at both ends when mature, reticulate throughout, 1-or 2-seeded. Seeds narrowly oblong, compressed, 10-12 × 6-7 mm. Fl. Apr, fr. Jun.