It rapidly develops dense, hairy, dark green vines about 5 mm in diameter,[5] until it reaches its mature size around 120 cm.

[3] The vines have bright green trifoliolate leaves, which are roughly 2–7 cm long with smooth hairs on the underside.

The seeds are small brown peas with a white spot, found in the plant's pods which hang on the vines in bunches of about 5-10.

[2] It has a short lifespan, but a high density, with a minimum of 1200 and a maximum of 1700 plants per acre when it is in season and free to grow.

On indigenous North and South American farms where M. atropurpureum was available, it would often be used as a ground cover during dry seasons to take advantage of the nitrogen-fixation abilities the legume has; this prevented soil erosion and acted as an organic fertilizer.

When used on a cow pasture intercropped with traditional grass in Australia, it improved milk yield by 2 kg per day.

[7] Because of its nitrogen-fixing abilities as a legume, M. atropurpureum acts as an efficient source of protein for animals when intercropped with grass on the pastures of subsistence and low-income farms, especially in Central and South America.

It has negative effects on native shrubs, grasses, and young trees by smothering them under its dense vines and not allowing them enough sunlight or soil nutrients to grow.

[5] 'It' also has a few limitations which include its intolerance to poor water drainage, its declining nutritional value after continued grazing, and its susceptibility to leaf disease.