Shrub or tree up to 20 m high with blackish-brown bark and leaves 5-10 cm long, usually having long straight, white thorns, at the base. Flower heads golden yellow and spherical. Pods straight and slender, slightly constricted between the seeds, dark brown 5-10 cm long and 0.5 cm broad. Occurs along rivers. The leaves and fruit seldom eaten by stock, probably because of the long thorns. No prussic acid in the leaves and thorns.