Herbs or shrubs. Leaf generally palmately multifoliolate; stipules adnate.. Inflorescence a terminal raceme. Bract caducous, bracteoles mostly persistent. Calyx 2-lipped. Vexillum orbicular or broadly ovate. Wing petals connate at the apex. Keel beaked. Stamens monadelphous, anthers alternately long and short. Ovary sessile, 2-many ovuled, style incurved, glabrous or with a ring of hairs beneath the terminal stigma. Fruit compressed, 2-valved, often constricted between the seeds. Seed estrophiolate.