Shrub or small tree; prickles few. Leaf trifoliolate, petiole 5-8 cm long; leaflet 3.5-10 cm long, 3-5 cm broad, orbicular or ovate, acuminate, glabrous, petiolule c. 4 mm long. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, c. 30 cm long, leafy below with distant flowers. Calyx c. 10-12.5 mm long, slightly bilabiate, glabrous. Corolla scarlet. Vexillum 4.5-5.0 cm long, c. 2.0 cm broad. Fruit 7.5-12.5 cm long, short beaked, seeds bright red with a black spot.

Fl.Per.: March-April.

Type: Described from Carolina, U.S.A. (Herb. Linn. 888.1).

Distribution: Native of southern United States of America; cultivated as an ornamental plant.