Introduced, cool-season, annual, prostrate legume; may grow to 50 cm tall under good conditions. Leaves have 3 oval to heart-shaped leaflets; each hairless, 10-20 mm long and with serrations towards the tip. The stalk of central leaflet is longer than the lateral ones. Flowerheads consist of 1-3 yellow pea-like flowers in the leaf axils. Burrs are coiled and have hooked spines (rarely spineless). Flowering is in late winter and spring. A native of the Mediterranean, it is occasional on floodplains and in disturbed areas (e.g. roadsides) on the coast where the soils are heavier and slightly acid to alkaline. Rarely abundant on the coast, but a valuable legume in inland low to medium rainfall areas. It is palatable and nutritious, and can provide some useful autumn-spring feed after adequate cool season rain. If consumed in excessive quantities it can cause bloat