Crown Vetch (Securigera varia (L.) Lassen)

A non-native, introduced plant, and member of the pea family, Crown Vetch can be found in almost every state in America. 
A native to Africa, crown vetch occurs in meadows, grasslands, savannas, and disturbed areas.
Although its seeds and foliage may be poisonous to nonruminants, elk, deer, most classes of livestock, and rabbits feed on crownvetch. Crownvetch is considered high quality livestock, deer, and elk forage, and in the winter, these large mammals paw through the snow to feed on crownvetch. Ground-nesting birds, meadow voles, and rabbits utilize crownvetch as cover