Subshrubs or perennial herbs. Stems scandent or prostrate, to 5 m, 4-angulate, hirsute, with or without prickles along angles. Leaves 10-15 cm; petiole and rachis with 4 rows of recurved prickles; pinnae (3-)7 or 10 pairs, 2-4.5 cm; leaflets (11-)20-30 pairs per pinna, linear-oblong, 3-5 × 1-2 mm, both surfaces white villous. Heads 1 or 2, axillary, ca. 1 cm in diam. (including filaments); peduncles 5-10 mm. Flowers bisexual. Calyx inconspicuous, ca. 0.4 mm. Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, ca. 2.5 mm, 4-lobed, outside slightly pubescent. Stamens 8; filaments pale purple-pink. Ovary ca. 1 mm. Legumes in clusters, slightly curved, oblong, 1.5-3.5 × 0.4-0.5 cm, with or without prickly bristles. Seeds yellow-brown, ca. 3.5 mm. 2n = 26*.
Sunny to lightly shaded locations, along drains, water courses and roadsides, in ravines, in annual and perennial crops and secondary forest from sea level to 2,000 metres. Restricted to depressions and other damp sites in drier areas.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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