Entry to Australia is prohibited by legislation and it is on the North Australian Quarantine Strategy target list. It is a twining or scrambling leguminous vine with a trifoliate leaf not unlike the pasture plants calopo and puero. In both its native and introduced habitat it climbs up tree trunks and becomes entwined in the foliage. Groups of dark purple flowers hang from the vine. The pods are curved, 4-8 cm long with longitudinal ribs, and are covered with dense, orange coloured hairs.
Reproduction is by seed.
It has not yet been found growing in Australia, and is considered a serious quarantine threat. The most undesirable feature of cow itch is the dense orange coloured hairs on the pods which cause severe irritation to the skin. The hairs dislodge easily and can drop onto the neck and arms, getting under clothing and causing intense discomfort. It is also a weed in crops, scrambling over other vegetation. Hand harvesting in infested crops is difficult due to the irritating hairs.