A common forage crop that often plants itself. The deep violet flowers in a loose clover-like head are distinctive. These plants were blooming on a bank by the street in Beechview.
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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Photographed June 10. 
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Common Vetch (Vicia sativa)
Photographed May 29. An adaptable weed also extensively planted as forage. The tiny flowers are easily missed in a weed patch, but a close look reveals that they are perfect miniature sweet peas. Ants seem to love it, and we have several pictures here of ant guests enjoying the plant and probably pollinating the flowers. These vines were all blooming on the grounds of Fallingwater in Mill Run.
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Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Photographed September 20 with a Kodak EasyShare Z981. A rambling perennial that can take over a hillside, but rewards us with these gorgeous pea flower all summer long. This vine was blooming on a bank in Beechview.
For a description of the species, see the Lathyrus latifolius reference page.
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Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)
Photographed August 22 with a Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6. A vine that twines its way through the underbrush along creeks and streams, dangling clusters of flowers in white, pink, or purple. These flowers produce seeds, but the vine also grows less showy flowers near the ground that turn into a single underground seed, like a peanut. These vines were found in Bird Park in Mount Lebanon.
For a description of the species, see the Amphicarpaea bracteata reference page.
Photographed August 22 with a Canon PowerShot SX150 IS. -
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Cheery little rings of bright yellow pea flowers with vertical red stripes decorate roadsides, parking lots, and anywhere else they can gain a foothold. These were blooming by a parking lot in Robinson Township.
Photographed June 13 with a Kodak EasyShare Z981. For a description of the species, see the Lotus corniculatus reference page.
