Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.
-
Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
-
Family
Fabaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Description - Herbaceous vine, climbing and twining, attaining 3-5 m in length. Stems up to 5 mm in diameter, cylindrical, glabrous, wine-colored when young. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets chartaceous, 5-14.6 x 3-10.5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, with slightly prominent venation, the apex obtuse or acute, mucronate, the margins sinuate to lobate; terminal leaflet rhombic-ovate or rhombic-lanceolate, the base cuneate. with the point rounded or sometimes subcordiform; lateral leaflets markedly asymmetrical, one side oblong, the other ovate or lanceolate, the base cuneate or truncate; petiolules 4-5 mm long, puberulent, winged; rachis 0.5-3.5 cm long, canaliculate, marginate or winged; petioles 1-10 cm long, canaliculate, marginate or winged, glabrous, thick, broadened at the base; stipels oblong or obovate, ca. 2 mm long; stipules peltate, constricted in the zone of insertion, the distal portion lanceolate, 6-10 mm long, the basal portion 2-3 mm long. Pseudoracemes axillary, up to 40 cm long, the flowers 2 per node, in the distal portion of the inflorescence; peduncles thick, glabrous; pedicels ca. 2 mm long, erect, with the calyx in an ascending position. Calyx green, campanulate, glabrous, ca. 8 mm long, the sepals slightly unequal, subulate, as long as the tubular portion. Corolla pale violet, white, greenish, or yellowish; standard rounded, 1.5-3 cm long, unguiculate, with the base auriculate; the wings and the keel shorter than the standard, the keel not spirally twisted. Legumes ascendent or horizontal, linear, slightly compressed, straight, 15-20 x ca. 1 cm, glabrous, the valves with partitions between the seeds. Seeds 10-15 per fruit, oblong, 9-10 mm long, reddish brown or white with a black spot, the hilum white, ca. 2 mm long.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting almost throughout the year.
Conservation Status - Exotic, cultivated and naturalized, uncommon.
-
Common Names
frijol, cowpea