Annual, stem branched from the base, decumbent or ascending, pubescent. Leaf imparipinnately compound, petiole c. 7-30 mm long, pubescent, hairs white, rachis c. 2.3-3 cm long, pubescent. Leaflets c. 11-17, c. (2)-5-10 mm long, oblong-elliptic, lanceolate or sublinear-lanceolate, entire, acute, rarely subobtuse, pubescent on both sides, hairs appressed; stipules free, white-ciliate on the margins. Flowers subsessile, inflorescence capitate, 2-6-flowered, sessile or borne on less than 1 cm long peduncle. Bracts 1.5-2 mm long, black and white ciliate. Calyx c. 4-5 mm long, black and white hirsute, teeth c. 1.5-2.5 mm. Corolla whitish, or violet. Vexillum c. 6-8 mm long. Wing c. 5-7 mm long. Keel c. 4.5-5 mm long. Fruit sessile, c. 5-10 mm long, slightly arched, gibbous at the base, pubescent; generally fruits arranged stellately.

Fl.Per.: February-April.

Type: Egypt, Delile (P).

Distribution: Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan (N.W.F. Province, Baluchistan, Punjab) India (Punjab), Russia (Lower Volga, Transcaucasia, Aralo-Caspia, Kyzyl Kum, Kara Kum, Mountain Turkmania, Amu Darya foothills, Syr Darya foothills, Pamir Alai, Tien Shan).

Jennifer Lamond 558 (E) (Makran, Hoshab to Panjgur, north of Balgather plain, c. 850 m, sandy roadside plain, 19.4.1965) agrees with var. tribuloides except that it has only 1 flower per inflorescence and the fruit is only slightly gibbous at the base.