Small tree: 4-6 m., with a distinct trunk and a round irregular crown; bark reddish-brown.

Young branches: glabrous.

Leaves: 3-4.5 cm., glabrous, with short glabrous petioles; stipular spines varying in length, 0.5-6 cm., longer spines spreading, straight, shorter sometimes slightly recurved; pinnae 2-6 pairs, with a small gland under each pair; leaflets 5-12 pairs, 2-7 mm., linear, obtuse, glabrous.
Peduncles 1.4-2.6 cm., hairy, with a small involucel near or below middle.

Heads: 1-5 in each axil, 0.4-1.2 cm., Calyx teeth short.
Corolla twice as long as calyx, pale yellow.

Pod: 6-13 x 0.6-0.9 cm., leathery, compressed, linear, torulose, spirally twisted in 1 or 2 coils, yellowish, glabrous, prominently longitudinally nerved.

Seeds: 5-6 x 3.5-4 mm.