Macroptilium lathyroides is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial climbing plant, growing from a fleshy, turnip-shaped root 15 - 35mm in diameter. The twining stem sprawls over the ground, climbing into other plants for support. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. This wildflower prefers dry habitats such as dry grasslands and plains. It produces lovely, pinkish-orange flowers that have a typical pea-like shape.