Deciduous tree up to 12-(18) m high; trunks with stout prickles; twigs round, smooth, clothed in short hairs when young but becoming glabrous, armed with prickles; prickles stout-based, scattered, 5-10 mm long. Lvs densely clothed with short medifixed hairs when young, becoming ± glabrous; leaflets broadly ovate to deltoid, ± acuminate, obtuse to truncate at base, entire, (7)-10-20 cm long; lateral leaflets somewhat smaller than terminal; stipules lanceolate, 5-10 mm long, caducous; stipels c. 1 mm long. Infls axillary, clustered at tips of branches, clothed in brown medifixed hairs when young; fls numerous, shortly pedicellate, subtended by caducous bracteoles. Calyx spathe-like, bilabiate, or irregularly shallowly toothed. Standard scarlet, c. 50-60 mm long; wings and keel c. 1/2 length of standard, orange to pale orange; filaments mauve. Pods not formed.