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Woody deciduous climber up to 30 m long; twigs densely hairy when young, becoming ± glabrous. Lvs densely hairy when young, becoming ± glabrous above when mature but usually remaining moderately clothed in appressed hairs below, petiolate; leaflets elliptic to obovate, acuminate, entire, in (3)-4-6 opposite pairs, 30-80 mm long, stipellate; petiolules 2-4 mm long; stipules inconspicuous. Raceme with numerous fls; pedicels c. 15-20 mm long. Calyx densely clothed in fine hairs; calyx teeth ovate-triangular, < tube. Corolla mauve to deep lilac, (15)-20-25-(28) mm long. Pod tomentulose, few-seeded, (6)-10-15 cm long; seeds smooth, brown, flattened, suborbicular.
A vigorous climber. It grows 12-18 m long. The trunks are twisted and gnarled. The twining stems turn woody. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are about 11 alternate leaflets that are oval and untoothed. The leaves are mid to dark green. The flowers are mauve and hang in 30 cm long racemes. These are on small spur like growths. The flowers are pea shaped and droop. The pods are oblong and velvety.
With 7–13 lfls and shorter (1.5–2 dm) racemes of slightly larger (2.5 cm) fls opening almost simultaneously, also escapes in our range, especially southward.
