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Pod linear, usually under 1 cm wide, densely hairy, pubescent (or glabrous in some Madagascan species), several-seeded, not or very tardily dehiscent or breaking irregularly (in some Madagascan species splitting into flat or spiralling valves), margins thickened.
Standard silky outside, with transverse basal callus, the claw short but sharply defined from the blade; wings falcate-oblong and keel incurved, obtuse, both pubescent at the margins near the base.
Leaves imparipinnate; leaflets reticulately veined (rarely with numerous parallel nerves as in Tephrosia spp.), the blades mostly widest below the middle; stipules small; stipels absent.
Upper filament free and sharply bent near to base, often connate with sheath above; tips of free parts of filaments sometimes ± widened.
Flowers sometimes scented, blue-purple, red or rarely white, in terminal pseudoracemes; bracts small; bracteoles absent.
Ovary sessile, many-ovuled; style hardened, tapering, glabrous; stigma terminal, minute.
Calyx teeth short, ± unequal, the upper 2 ± connate.
Small, silky-pubescent trees and shrubs.
Seeds reniform, with aril.
