Narrowleaf Indigo is slender much-branched prostrate or erect annual or bushy perennial, growing to 50 cm tall. Branches are velvety hairy with appressed hairs. Nearly stalkless leaves are narrow, linear to oblong-lanceolate, 20-45 x 2-4 mm, sharp-tipped, appressed-pubescent on both surfaces. Inflorescence is a spike-like raceme, sitting on a short peduncle. The raceme is to 3 cm long, 2-10-flowered; bracts broad-lanceolate, 1 mm long, acute. Bright red flowers are 3-8 mm long. Sepal tube at first pitcher-shaped 3-4 mm long, later bell-shaped. Sepals linear, longer than the tube. Petals are bright-red, with the standard petal circular, one-quarter longer than the calyx, wings and keel shorter. Pod globular, 1.5-2 mm, apiculate, appressed-white-tomentose, 1-seeded; seeds globular, 1.5 mm, brown-black, smooth. The plant is used as famine food. The plant is threshed, and the seeds ground into flour for making bread - either unmixed or combined with other cereals e.g. bajra (millet) or jowar.