Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs. Lvs palmately 5- or more foliolate, very rarely 3- or 1-foliolate, petiolate; leaflets entire; principal lateral veins conspicuous or not; stipules adnate to petiole. Infls terminal, racemose, few- to many-flowered; bracts usually caducous. Calyx bilabiate; lips much > tube; upper 2 lobes connate into an entire, 2-toothed or 2-partite lip; lower 3 lobes connate into an entire or 3-toothed lip. Stamens connate into a closed tube; alternate anthers long and basifixed or short and versatile. Style glabrous; stigma terminal, often bearded. Pod 2-valved, ± straight, dehiscent, not armed, 2-many-seeded; seeds estrophiolate, rough or smooth.