Plants shrubs or trees to 10(-15) m tall; bark greyish, rough; branchlets subglabrous to densely pubescent, internodes less than 3 cm long; prickles in threes, or solitary, if in threes the central one pointing downwards, the lateral 2 curved upwards. Leaves petiolate, with (1-)3-9 pairs of pinnae; petioles usually with a distinctly raised gland; leaflets in (4-)7-25 pairs, about 1-5 mm long and 0.5-1.75 mm wide, pubescent or glabrous. Inflorescences spikelike, up to 12 cm long, with about 20 flowers. Flowers white or cream; calyces 2-3 mm long; corollas 2.75-4 mm long. Pods straight, dehiscent, 4-10 mm long, (1.2)1.5-3.4 cm wide, yellowish brown to brown, veined, desnely to sparsely appressed pubescent;seeds subcircular, 8-12 mm in diameter; areoles 2.5-6 mm long, 2.5-5 mm wide.
Seneglia senegal grows in Acacia-Commiphora bushland and dry scrub at 0-1340 m. It is known from all regions of Somaliland and Somalia recognized in the Flora of Somalia. It is widespread in from tropical Africa to India.