Erect to spreading much-branched shrub or small tree up to 2 m. tall. Branchlets glab. or nearly so, sinuate, ± 2 mm. diam., slightly compressed, grooved, at a wide angle to axis, ± drooping and interlacing. Lvs 3-4-(7)-foliolate, ± pilose when young, on petioles c. 10 mm. long; lflts very shortly stalked, obcordate-cuneate, ± 4 × 2 mm. Young plants in shade have lflts up to 15 × 10 mm., more distinctly stalked. Infl. of strict, us. solitary (10)-20-30-(40)-fld racemes on peduncles ± pilose, ± 20 mm. long. Fls shortly stalked, ± 4 × 3 mm. Calyx c. 2 × 2 mm., ± pilose; teeth very short, broad-triangular, blunt, ciliate; standard purple-veined, purple-blotched towards base, pale towards apex; keel white or purple-flushed, auricles rounded; wings white, veins pale purple, auricles bluntly pointed. Ovary glab. or nearly so. Pods stramineous, 7-8 × 3-4 mm., ± ovate-oblong, slightly compressed; beak c. 2 mm., stout, subulate. Seeds 2-4, ± 3 mm. diam., pale to dark brown.

More openly branched; branchlets less sinuate, distinctly pubescent. Lflts us. 7, pubescent, ± glaucous below, ± rounded or truncate at apex. Racemes and calyx densely appressed-hairy. Ovary and young pods pilose.

Bushy shrub up to c. 2 m. tall, with spreading branches; branchlets spring- and summer-lfy, glab. or nearly so, ± drooping, up to 20 cm. × 3 mm., much-compressed, grooved. Lvs of young plants 5-10-foliolate, of adults 3-5-foliolate; lflts subsessile, about obcordate, ± 4 × 2 mm. Infl. of solitary ascending to spreading racemes on peduncles ± 10 mm. long, densely 8-10-(15)-fld. Fls c. 5 × 5 mm., on pedicels ± 1 mm. long. Calyx ± 3 × 2 mm., teeth triangular, long-pointed. Standard purple-veined, purple-blotched; keel white, auricles rounded; wings white, purple-blotched and -veined. Ovary glab. Pods strict, crowded, stramineous to light brown, ovate, subcompressed, ± 5 × 3 mm.; beak 1-2 mm. long, subulate, sharp-pointed. Seeds us. 2, ± flattened, 2 mm. diam., dark brown with or without darker markings.

Bushy spring- and summer-lfy shrub up to 2 m. tall; branches spreading; branchlets drooping, flanged, much-compressed, striate to grooved, ± pilose, up to 20 cm. × 2 mm. Lvs 5-7-foliolate; lflts subsessile, obcordate to obovate, 3 × 2 mm., ± pilose. Infl. of simple, ascending to erect, 5-10-(15)-fld racemes on ± pubescent peduncles ± 10 mm. long. Fls 3-4 × 3 mm. on pubescent pedicels c. 1 mm. long. Calyx ± 1 × 1 mm., ciliate; teeth minute, broad-triangular. Standard, keel and wings all white, purple-veined, auricles rounded. Ovary glab. or nearly so. Pods stramineous, c. 7 × 4 mm., broad-ovate to suborbicular, ± compressed; beak rather stout, straight, subulate, almost pungent, 2-3 mm. long. Seeds 1-2, c. 3 × 2 mm., somewhat flattened, pale brown to straw-coloured, us. with dark blotch.

Indumentum of branchlets, lvs, racemes and calyx more pronounced. Ovary and immature pods pilose.

2n = 32

Shrub, up to 3(-8) × 2-3 m. Branches up to 100 mm diameter, ascending and horizontal. Cladodes 40-250 × 1-2.3 mm, erect and spreading, often divaricate, linear, striate, compressed, green, frequently hairy when young, glabrous when mature, apex subacute; leaf nodes 5—14(—19) mm. Leaves 1—7-foliolate, present on seedlings and adults, terminal leaflet larger; lamina 2-13 × 1-8(-13) mm, obovate to broad-elliptic, rarely orbicular, fleshy, green, adaxial and abaxial surfaces hairy or glabrous, apex emarginate, base cuneate; petiole 5—25 mm long, glabrous or hairy, green; petiolule < 0.3 mm long, glabrous or hairy, light green. Leaves on cladodes reduced to scales, < 0.8 mm long, broad-triangular, glabrous, apex acute. Stipules c. 1 × c. 1 mm, free, triangular, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface hairy, apex subacute, margin hairy. Inflorescence a raceme, 1 per node, each with (4—)8-40 flowers. Peduncle 4— 10 mm long, glabrous, green. Bracts < 0.8 mm long, triangular, glabrous, brown, apex acute to subacute, margins hairy. Pedicel c. 1 mm long, glabrous, green. Bracteoles < 0.5 mm long, at top of pedicel or on receptacle, green and sometimes flushed red, glabrous, apex obtuse, margin hairy. Calyx 1.5-2 × 1— 1.2 mm, campanulate, green, outer surface glabrous. Calyx lobes 0.2—0.3 mm long, triangular, green and usually flushed red, inner surface hairy, appressed to corolla, apex subacute to obtuse. Standard 3.5-4 × 2.5-3.5 mm, broad-obovate, patent, positioned towards front of keel, keeled, apex emarginate, margins flattened; central part of inner and outer surfaces purple or red-purple, margins white, sometimes purple-veined; claw c. 1 mm long, pale green. Wings 3.5—4 × 0.9—1.1 mm, oblong, similar in length to keel, inner and outer surfaces white, sometimes purple-veined, apex obtuse; auricle 0.2-0.4 mm long, triangular, white, apex obtuse; claw 1.3— 1.5 mm long, pale green. Keel (Fig. 2D) 3.5-4 × 1.4— 1.7 mm, apex obtuse; distal area of inner surface purple, proximal area white; outer surface white, flushed purple in distal part and sometimes purpleveined; auricle 0.2—0.4 mm long, triangular, white, apex obtuse; claw 1.3—1.5 mm long, pale green. Stamens 3.5-4 mm long; dorsal filaments connate for c. 7/8 of length, outer stamens free for 0.2—0.5 mm. Pistil 3.7-4.2 mm long, exserted beyond stamens, glabrous; ovules 4-9(—11). Pods 5-9 × 1.5-3 mm, oblong, broad-elliptic or ovate, laterally compressed, erect, light grey or brown, valves dehiscent in distal part; beak 1-2.5 mm long, in a central apical position, stout, pungent-tipped. Seeds 2-3.7 × 1.6— 2.4 mm, broad-oblong to broad-elliptic, 1-3 per pod, laterally compressed, surface with 1—3 ridges, testa thin and membranous, light brown or tan. FL (Sep-)Dec-Feb, FT Jan-May(-Sep).