Dwarf, acaulescent, perennial herb from a well-developed, short, but knotty caudex on a simple taproot; leaves 3-11 cm long, pinnately compound with 5-9 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet grayish pubescent below and nearly glabrous on the upper surface; inflorescence a short raceme of 2-5 flowers, flowering stem (peduncle) very short and usually not raising the flowers above the basal leaves; flowers pea-like, about 2.2 cm long, petals white with pink-purple veins or tips, banner petal barely recurved; pods about 10 mm long and 7 mm wide, pubescent, completely bilocular. Flowers in May.