Vicia benghalensis (Purple Vetch)

Native to Madeira and the Azores, southern Europe, and northwestern Africa, this climbing or trailing herb belongs to the pea family and grows as an annual or short-lived perennial. Hairy stems carry paired leaflets and curling tendrils. One-sided clusters of reddish-purple flowers develop into flattened pods, usually with three to five seeds. It is cultivated for forage and as a cover crop or green manure. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria help it enrich the soil, and its dense growth can suppress weeds. Despite its forage use, it can poison livestock. It has naturalized in Western Australia. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.