Shrublets, 25-30 cm in diam., forming hemispherical cushions, branching from a ligneous caudex. Branches 6-10 cm, stout. Stipules narrowly triangular, 3-5 × ca. 3 mm, scarious, basally connate, margin ciliate. Leaves 1-7 cm, 7-11(or 13)-foliolate; rachis persistent, with whitish trichomes, apically spine-bearing; leaflets opposite; leaflet blades ovate, linear, or oblong, 2-15 × 1-2 mm, appressed sericeous, apex acuminate and spinescent. Racemes 2-5-flowered; peduncle 2-5 cm, with dense white trichomes; bracts subulate, 3-5 × ca. 3 mm, scarious, with whitish and blackish trichomes. Calyx cylindric, 10-14 × 3-4 mm, pilose with whitish or sometimes whitish and blackish intermixed long trichomes; lobes subulate, 2-4 × ca. 0.5 mm. Corolla purple, blue, violet-blue, reddish purple, or white; standard 1.8-2.4 cm, lamina obovate to elliptic, apex rounded; wings 1.7-2.3 cm, lamina obliquely obovate, apex rounded; keel 1.9-2.2 cm, beak 1-2 mm. Legume sessile, ovoid to subspherical, 1.7-2.5 × 1-1.2 cm, inflated, ± 2-locular, dense blackish and whitish pilose, septum 1.5-2 mm. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. Jul-Aug. 2n = 16, 32.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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