Depressed shrub up to 8 cm. tall, forming small patches. Taproot rather slender, deeply descending. Branches erect, rigid, very close-set, lfless when adult, glab. Branchlets 2-3 cm. × 2-3-(4) mm., strongly compressed, striate, obtuse at apex. Infl. of 1-2-(5) racemes, 1-3-fld. Fls ± 5 × 4 mm., on slender slightly hairy decurved pedicels; bracteoles minute, ovate, ciliate. Calyx ± 1 mm. diam., teeth acute; standard obcordate, lilac with purplish blotch, c. 4 mm. diam.; keel greenish white, auricles rounded. Ovary glab. Pods suborbicular to broad-oblong, compressed, 4-5-(6) mm. long, black or very dark brown; replum stout; beak rather stout, curved. Seeds 1-2, reniform, dull olive-green, black-mottled.