Erect annual, 60-100 cm tall, branches pubescent, hairs biramous, stem grooved. Leaf trifoliolate, petiole c. 2.5-3.8 cm long; leaflets 3.7-7.5 cm long, c. 12.5-50 mm broad, elliptic, acute, dentate, pubescent on both sides; petiolule up to 2.0 mm long; stipules c. 6-10 mm long. Inflorescence a raceme, 6-30-flowered. Bract c. 4.5-5 mm long. Pedicel short. Calyx c. 5-6.5 mm long, teeth unequal, the lowest longest. Corolla purplish, slightly longer than calyx. Fruit c. 3.7-5 cm long, subtetragonal, pubescent, 5-6-seeded.

Fl.Per.: Throughout the year, depending on the sowing time.

Type: Suratte, Herb. Linn. 928.23 (LINN).

Distribution: Pakistan; India; Afghanistan; Arabia.

Apparently unknown in the wild state. Cultivated as a vegetable for human consumption and is also used as fodder. A gum is also obtained from the seed flour. It is used in food, paper and textile industries.