Scientific Name: Macroptilium atropurpureum

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Vine, Herb/Forb

Description　  Deep-rooting perennial with trailing pubescent stems which may root anywhere along their length, especially in moist clay soils but rarely in drier sandy soils. Leaves pinnately trifoliate, dark green and slightly hairy on the upper, silvery and very hairy on the lower, surfaces. Lateral leaflets ovate, obtuse, about 4 to 6 cm, often asymmetrically lobed.　The inflorescence is a raceme; peduncle 10 to 30 cm long, with 6 to 12 flowers crowded at the apex, deep purple with a reddish tinge near the base of the petals. Pod straight, about 7.5 cm long and many-seeded. Pods dehisce violently when ripe. Seeds from light brown to black, flattened ovoid in shape, 4 x 2.5 x 2 mm (Barnard, 1967).

Rainfall requirements　 It requires at least 615 mm and preferably more than 850 mm. It does not thrive in high rainfall regions above 1 800 mm.