Perennial herb, up to 0.3 m high; not spinescent. Stems erect, many from woody rootstock, densely leafy. Leaves narrowly linear to narrowly ovate, up to 20 x 3 mm, apex acute. Flowers: in few-flowered, terminal racemes; wings obovate, 6 x 3 mm, apex acute to obtuse, yellowish green with dark green veins; petals deep mauve; Oct.-Jan.
Herb, up to 300 mrn tall, many-stemmed from woody rootstock. Leaves oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acute, flat, not recurved at point, 10-24 x 2-5 mm. Raceme contracted, usually about 10-flowered. Flowers deep mauve.