Herbs, 7-20(-25) cm tall, acaulescent, arising from a subterranean long-branched multiheaded caudex, appressed sericeous. Stipules broadly ovate to triangular-ovate, 5-9 mm, herbaceous, densely appressed white or yellow sericeous. Leaves 2.5-14 cm; leaflets at least some verticillate or sometimes subverticillate, in (1-)3-9 whorls, 3 or 4 blades per whorl; leaflet blades linear-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, or linear, 1-2 cm × 1-3 mm, both surfaces sericeous. Racemes capitate, 5-15-flowered; peduncle 6-11(-19) cm, equal to or longer than leaves; bracts lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 2.5-6 mm, membranous, sericeous with appressed white long trichomes, apex acute. Calyx cylindric, 6-8.3(-10) mm, with intermixed black and white long trichomes, base oblique; lobes linear-lanceolate, 1.8-3.5 mm. Corolla purple, pale purple, or rarely white; standard 1.4-1.8 cm, lamina elliptic-ovate, apex rounded; wings 1.2-1.6 cm, lamina obliquely obovate, apex obliquely truncate to rounded; keel 1-1.4 cm, beak 1.5-2.5 mm. Legume sessile, ovoid, 1-2 × 0.7-1.2 cm, inflated, spreading-ascending, membranous, with white or sometimes black trichomes. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug. 2n = 16.
Sandy open hillsides, semistabilized sand dunes, gravelly areas, grasslands; at elevations from 500-2,700 metres.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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