Edible : Seeds, Leaves, Pods, Tuberous root, Vegetable, Tuber,
A creeping bean type plant with straight firm pods. Both cover crop types (leafy) and grain types occur. There is a deep tap root and many branches occur from it in the surface of the soil. The root nodules are large and round. They can be 5 mm across. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The end leaflet can be 12-16 cm long. This leaflet is larger than the side leaflets. The side leaflets are assymetrical. The stipules at the base of the leaf are large and with spurs at their base. Flowers occur often in pairs on the end of long flowering shoots. This stalk can be 2 cm to 30 cm long. Only 2-4 flowers in each stalk produce pods. Flowers are white, yellow or blue. They are large and showy. The standard petal is 2-3 cm across. The pods are about 15 cm long. The seeds are white except for a dark scar.
It grows in tropical and subtropical climates. It grows from sea level to 1800 metres altitude in the tropics. In Ethiopia it grows between 500-2,000 m above sea level. Plants can stand high temperatures. Some kinds can tolerate drought. They are sensitive to cold and killed by frost. Plants germinate with a temperature between 11.5-15.5°C. The best growth is between 20-35°C. They can grow on a range of soils providing they are well drained. They are a short day plant. They do well in the semiarid tropics. It will not tolerate acid or alkaline soils. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 280-410 mm. It can grow in arid places. It can tolerate shade so is good for inter-cropping.
Common names : Cowpea, Black-eyed pea, Adenguare, Agwa, Akara-binch, Akedi, Akitereku ase, Amuli, Asedua kokoo, Atidua, Barbati, Be-hlawi, Belawi, Beloi, Besei, Birijori, Black eye pea, Black-eyed bean, Bodi, Bojo, Boo, Bora bean, Bori, Caspi chiclayo, Caupi, Dau den, Daun talak, Dau-trang, Dinaba, Dinawa, Dolique a oeil noir, Dunguri, Eboo, Eggobe, Ekiyindiru, E-lel, Enkoole, Ere, Ewa, Ewe, Feijao-macanha, Fore-metan, Frejol, Frijol de vaca, Gahat, Imare, Imbumba, Indumba, Iniangu, Jiang dou, Kacang merah, Karnikara, Kaspi purutu, Kattukanam, Kelege kelegete, Kollu, Kuerbse, Kunde, Laputu, Likote, Madan bean, Manawa, Mandala, Mazi bori, Mbwenge, Mkunde, Mole, Mpindi, Mugobiswa, Muma kiore, Munaoa, Munawa, muNyemba, Mwende, Ngor, Nhebe-limboncadje, Nhebe-limboque, Niaw, Niebe, Nkasa, Nsili, Nthooko, Nyawa, Nyemba, Nyebe, Nyele, Nzooko, Obo, Obo alwala, Omugobe, Peanut bean, Pini, Sasage, Sbaithai, Seb, Shirshira, Sosso, Tau kok, Tchaasse, Te bin, Thua pum, Tindlubu, Tinhlumayo, Titoun'ti, Tnainyeritonn'te, Towo, Vainita, Verdura, Wake, Wakei, Watalo-binch, Yoo,
Synonyms :
Dolichos biflorus L.;
Dolichos catjang Burm.f.;
Dolichos hastifolius Schintzl.;
Dolichos lubia Forsskal;
Dolichos melanophtalmus DC.;
Dolichos monachalis Brot.;
Dolichos obliquifolius Schintzl.;
Dolichos sesquipedalis L.
Dolichos sinensis L.;
Dolichos tranquebaricus Jacq.;
Dolichos unguiculatus L.;
Lieberechtsia scabra De Wild.;
Phaseolus cylindricus L.;
Phaseolus sphaerospermus L.;
Phaseolus unguiculatus (L.) Piper;
Vigna brachycalyx Baker. f.;
Vigna catjang (Burm. f.) Walp.;
Vigna cilindrica (L.) Skeels;
Vigna scabra (De Willd.) T. Durand & H. Durand;
Vigna scabrida Burtt. Davy;
Vigna sinensis (Linn.) Savi ex Hassk.;
[or Vigna unguiculata Unguiculata Group]