American Vetch

Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd.
American vetch is a long-lived, cool season, native perennial legume. It has climbing or trailing tendrils; the name vicia is from the Latin vincio meaning to bind or climb. It is commonly found throughout British Columbia. Its common names include American vetch, wild vetch, stiffleaf vetch, and wild pea. Currently recognized subspecies are Vicia americana ssp. americana and Vicia americana ssp. minor Hook.
It has rhizomatous roots and forms symbiotic root nodules with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. It forms a single trailing or climbing stem 15 to 100 cm (6 to 39 in.) tall, and occasionally hairy. Leaves are simple with 8 to 18 leaflets each about 35 mm (1.4 in.) long.
Flowers are bluish purple to reddish purple and pea-like. They have 3 to 9 flowers in a loose terminal cluster. Seed pods are hairless.