Erect or sprawling shrublet up to 1.5m. Leaves 3-foliolate, leaflets linear to awl-shaped, often slightly incurved, glabrous or softly-hairy; bright yellow flowers are in terminal heads and fade to red, brown or black; wings glabrous, keel with pointed tip, glabrous; calyx woolly.

Latin: cilium, cilia; delicate hairs resembling eyelashes, especially such as form a fringe to the margins of the leaves.