Glabrous to subglabrous, annual, stem winged. Leaf paripinnately compound, leaflets 2, 5-100 mm long, 1.5-11 mm broad, narrowly lanceolate to linear, stipules lanceolate, semisagittate; median and upper leaves with mostly 3-sect tendrils. Peduncle 1-flowered, 3.0-6.0 cm. Calyx 7-10 mm long, teeth subequal, 1 ½-3 times as long as the tube. Corolla red, blue or white, 12-24 mm long. Fruit 2.5-3.3 cm long, 9-12 mm broad, upper suture broadly winged, wings 1-2.5 mm wide; 3-5-seeded.

Fl.Per.: March-August.

Types: ‘Habitat in Hispania, Gallia’, Herb.Linn. 905/6 (LINN); Hort.Cliff.(BM).

Distribution; Pakistan; Kashmir; India; Europe; N.Africa; S.W. Asia; Russia.

Cultivated as a fodder crop; human consumption of seeds is considered injurious and may even result in paralysis.