Introduced, warm-season, annual to short-lived perennial, prostrate to sprawling legume. Stems are hairless to densely bristly. Leaves are pinnate, with 20-50 leaflets, each 3-15 mm long. Flowerheads consist of clusters of 3-10 yellow pea-like flowers in the leaf axils. Pods are divided into 3-7 segments and covered in dense soft or stiffly erect hairs. Flowers throughout the growing season. A native of North America, it is sown for grazing or as an orchard ground cover. Best suited to soils with a pH(Ca) greater than 5, an annual rainfall of more than 1000 mm and where moisture is retained. It is not very persistent on poor country. A palatable and high quality feed, it produces moderate yields under good conditions. Not very drought tolerant and is susceptible to powdery mildew. Responds strongly to phosphorus applications, but will tolerate low fertility (although much lower