A common weed of the Mediterranean, Securigera securidaca, has deep yellow flowers arranged in a crown. It produces impressive long narrow pods, which give rise to the alternate english name of hatchet weed and the scientific name (see below).

the goat pea, like many other plants of the Fabaceae family has seeds with high values of essential fatty acids which are nutritious to humans and animals including goats and chickens and have even been shown to protect hens from altitude sickness.