Annual or biennial, erect, 1-3 m tall, stem glabrous or sparsely pubescent when young, sparsely aculeate. Leaf paripinnate, rachis 20-35 cm long, aculeate; leaflets 50-110, 10-20 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, oblong, obtuse, mucronate, sparsely pilose on margins and midrib below; stipules 6-10 mm long. Inflorescence a raceme, 3-12-flowered, up to 13 cm long. Pedicel 6-11 mm long. Calyx c. 4 mm long, teeth c. 1 mm long, margin pubescent. Corolla pale yellow, violet flecked. Vexillum c. 12-13 mm long (including c. 3 mm long claw). Fruit c. 15-25 cm long, c. 2-3 mm wide, glabrous, 35-40-seeded.

Fl.Per.: June-September.

Type: Plant of unknown origin, cultivated in Vienna before 1788 and figured in Jacq., l.c.Pl.Rar.3.t.564.1792.

Distribution: Pakistan, India, China, S.E. Asia; Mozambique, Rhodesia; Botswana; South West Africa; Lesotho; S. Africa; Madagascar; Mauritius; Kenya; Tanganyika; Jamaica (probably introduced).