Smooth Tare (Vicia tetrasperma) is an annual plant species native to the United Kingdom, belonging to the Fabaceae family. It is commonly found in various habitats across the UK, including grasslands, meadows, hedgerows, and arable fields.

Smooth Tare has modest nutrient requirements and thrives in well-drained soils with moderate fertility. It is often encountered in sunny or partially shaded locations, where it forms dense patches of foliage and clusters of small, purple flowers.

In its natural habitat, Smooth Tare serves as a valuable food source for various herbivores, including insects, birds, and small mammals, which feed on its nutritious foliage and seeds. However, its bitter-tasting leaves and potentially toxic compounds provide some defence against excessive predation.

As an annual plant, Smooth Tare completes its life cycle within a single growing season. It typically germinates from seed in the spring, grows rapidly throughout the summer, flowers and sets seed in the late summer or autumn, and dies off with the onset of cold weather.

Culturally, Smooth Tare holds limited significance in the UK beyond its role as a common wildflower and forage crop in agricultural systems. While not widely referenced in literature or folklore, it contributes to the biodiversity and ecological balance of British landscapes.

An interesting fact about Smooth Tare is its ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere through its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, making it valuable for improving soil fertility in agricultural rotations.