Japan Flora: Erect stiff perennial herb, 80-150 cm. high, densely yellowish brown ascending-pubescent; stipules linear，recurved, the leaflets oblong, obtuse to rounded, 3-6 cm. long, 10-30 mm. wide; chasmogamic flowers whitish, 8-10 mm. long, densely arranged on elongate, peduncled racemes, the bracts lanceolate, obtuse, small, the bracteoles broadly linear, about 2 mm. long, acuminate; calyx deeply 5-lobed, 5-7 mm. long, the lobes lanceolate, spine-tipped; legumes ovate, ascending-pilose; cleistogamic flowers rather many, fasciculate in the leaf-axils; calyx 4-5 mm. long; legumes 3-4 mm. long.  July-Sept. Grassy slopes in hills.

Honshu, Kyushu. e. Siberia, Manchuria, China, India, Formosa, and Ryukyus.