Ragi is a large climbing shrub, with branches carrying curved prickles on corky tubercles (small knoblike structures). Leaves are 2-pinnate - rachis to 30 cm long, pinnae 2-5. Flowers fragrant, in terminal and axillary racemes 20-40cm. Yellow flowers appear like hoods with long stamens with red anthers, coming out. The species name cucullatum means hooded. Ragi is found a bit rarely in evergreen forests at higher elevations of the Sahyadri hills. It is much more abundant in north-east India.