Vicia benghalensis (Vicia atropurpurea) - Red tufted vetch - (Fabaceae)

Vicia benghalensis

This very hairy plant occurs in West and Central Mediterranean from Portugal and North West Africa to Greece. It can be found in fallow farmland, waste ground and on waysides.

Not anywhere near as common as other members of the pea family (Fabaceae) that are found in the Mediterranean, this flower is an interesting one to find. Its dark red tufts of flowers droop gracefully from hairy stems.

This photograph was taken in the Algarve, in Portugal, in May.