A low bushy tree, branches downy, slender, whitish, armed with pointed prickles, distributed on internodes. Leaf bipinnately compound, stipules lateral, free, 2-3 mm long; rachis 1.8-3.0 cm long, pinnae 3-5 pairs, c. 1.5-2.2 cm long, tip ending into a point, leaflets 9-13 pairs, petiole 1 mm, lamina c. 6 mm long, c. 1.5 mm broad, lanceolate, very oblique, margin entire, tip acute. Spike 6-10 cm long. Pedical 1 mm. Calyx c. 0.8 mm long, glabrous, teeth minute. Corolla c. 2 mm or more long. Pod oblique, oblong, 1.2-2.5 (-4.0) cm long, 1.2 (-2.3) cm thick, black, rugose, obtuse, contracted abruptly into the stalk; mesocarp pulpy.

Fl. Per. April-September.

Holotype: Syria prope, Aleppo, Patr. Russell (BM).

Distribution: W. Pakistan, N.W.F. Province; Afghanistan, Persia, Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Trans Jordon, Palestine, Cyperus, Russia Caucasus, Central Asia).

Young parts are browsed by camels, goats and sheep. Gall affected pods yield a light yellow dye which is employed in dyeing and tanning. The seeds are reputed to have medicinal properties.