Vicia benghalensis aka Purple Vetch

Vicia benghalensis, also known as purple vetch or reddish tufted vetch, is an annual herb that is native to southern Europe, North Africa, and nearby islands. It has a climbing stem that is coated in dense hairs, giving the plant a silvery-white appearance. The leaves are made up of several pairs of elongated leaflets, and the inflorescence is a one-sided raceme of dark reddish-purple flowers. The fruit is a flat, hairy legume pod that contains multiple seeds. This plant is commonly used as a cover crop and green manure for soil improvement and pest control, as well as for crop rotation, hay and fodder, and as a honey plant. It has a high biomass yield but caution must be taken as the seeds and forage have been reported to cause poisoning in humans and livestock. Purple vetch is not very winter-hardy and is typically used as a winter growing species in milder areas. It can also be grown as a spring crop in areas with harder winters. It is often controlled with post-emergent herbicides containing triclopyr and clopyralid, as well as fluroxypyr products. As a houseplant, purple vetch needs regular watering and direct light that is less than one foot away from a window. It prefers well-draining soil and can benefit from organic fertilizer during the peak growing season.