Hairy vetch is a common wayside plant with origins in central and southern Europe, east Asia and North Africa, but is now found on every continent; it seems to thrive on Skopelos. It can be a valuable fodder crop or a troublesome weed. Although it can be a rather straggly plant, is has numerous, attractive, two-toned, purple flowers, held above the surrounding foliage and arranged in curved, one sided spikes. leaves are formed of small, paired leaflets and end in fine curling tendrils which twine around the surrounding vegetation.