Perennial herbs, 20-70(-100) cm. Stems erect or ascending, branched at base, quadrangular. Stipules lanceolate, cuspidate, veins obvious, base rounded, auriculate, with 1-3 shallow denticles, apex slightly curved; petiole 2-7(-12) mm; leaflets varied in shape with different habitats, oblong, oblanceolate, cuneate, linear, and oblong-ovate, (6-)10-15(-25) × (1.5-)3-7(-12) mm, terminal largest, lateral veins 8-18 pairs, prominent on both surfaces, base cuneate, broadly cuneate, to rounded, margin entire below, slightly to irregularly serrulate in upper 3/4, apex truncate, obtuse, or retuse. Flowers (4-)6-9(-15) in umbels, sometimes to 2 cm; peduncles straight, usually longer than subtending leaf; bracts 1-2 mm; pedicels 1.5-4 mm. Corolla yellow-brown, with scarlet to purple stripes in center, (5-)6-9 mm; standard oblong-obovate, obcordate, or spatulate; wings oblong; keel shortest, ovate. Ovary linear; ovules 4-8. Legume oblong or oblong-ovate, 8-15(-20) × 3.5-5(-7) mm, flat, veins inclined transversely, black when ripe, base tapering and slightly curved, stipitate, apex obtuse, apiculate. Seeds 2-6, brown, elliptic-ovoid, ca. 2 × 1.5 mm, smooth. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct.
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