Arborescent shrub to c. 3 m high; stems few and with terminal crown of lvs. Lvs to c. 40 cm long, sessile, composed of 5-9 pairs of sessile (except the terminal) leaflets, the basal pair smaller and stipule-like, the terminal leaflet largest. Leaflets of main pairs 4-7.5 × 2-3.5 cm, ovate, rigidly coriaceous, with 2-5 spiny teeth on margins; apex spiny. Racemes lax and spreading, to c. 20 cm long; basal scales to 1.5 cm long, broadly ovate, membranous, dark brown. Bracts ovate, slightly < pedicels at anthesis. Perianth segments to 9 mm long, ovate, imbricate except for short outermost whorl. Stamens included, < inner perianth segments; filaments entire. Style very short. Berry 8-10 mm long, ± broadly obovoid, blue-black and pruinose.