Low, much-branched, thorny shrubs 2-7 m high rarely growing into a small tree; branchlets grey to reddish-brown, marked with numerous lenticels; stipules rigid, straight, prominent, spinescent, in pairs, 1-3 cm long. 

<P>Leaves bipinnate; petiole pubescent with a small gland; rachis pubescent usually with a gland below the junction of each pinnae pair; pinnae 2-6 pairs; pinnules 10-21 pairs, 3-8 mm long, 1-2 mm broad, mid-green, glabrous, a mid vein visible on the under surface with a few obscure lateral veins, apex obtuse or shortly acute.

<P>Inflorescences simple, 1-3 per axil; flower-heads bright yellow, 50-60-flowered, sweetly scented; peduncles pubescent, 15-20 mm long; flowers 5-merous. 

<P>Legumes 4-7 cm long, 9-12 mm broad, straight or curved, turgid, subterete, thick, woody, striate, dark brown to blackish, indehiscent. Seeds oblique in legume, ellipsoid and surrounded by a pithy substance.