Vigna vexillata
(Benth.) A. Rich.
Wild cowpea, Pencil yam
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Summary
Source: WikipediaVigna vexillata, the Zombi pea or wild cowpea, is a variable, perennial climbing plant that is pantropical, found in regions such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Venezuela.
Description
A variable climbing herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a narrow woody rootstock. This is dull white and wrinkled. The vines are 30 cm to 3 m long. They are hairy. The leaves have 3 leaflets and these are oval or long. They can be 3-16 cm long by 0.4-8 cm wide. They taper towards the tip and are rounded at the base. They leaf stalk is 2-11 cm long. The flowering stalks are in the axils of leaves and have 2-6 flowers. The flowering stalk is 5-36 cm long. The pea like flower has a standard which is 2-3 cm long and not the same on both sides. Flowers are pink or purple. The keel is paler with a beak curved back at the end and twisted to one side. The fruit are pods which are held erect. They are 4-14 cm long by 3-4 mm wide and covered with short brown hairs. There are 10-18 seeds. The seeds are light brown to black. They are kidney shaped and 3-4 mm long by 2 mm wide.
Edible Uses
The plant is a very important food crop in several areas, such as Namibia, where it is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. Its use has spread beyond its native range and the plant is now sometimes cultivated for its edible tubers. It is also grown as a green manure and ground cover crop, especially in poor soils. The root is consumed raw or cooked. The tubers have a soft, easily peeled skin and creamy flesh. They are boiled or roasted and are particularly rich in protein. The young leaves, young pods, and seeds are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Traditional Uses
The tuberous roots are eaten raw or cooked. They can be boiled or roasted. The young seeds are cooked and eaten. The leaves can be eaten as a vegetable and also dried.
Medicinal Uses
The plant is used medicinally.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It mostly grows naturally in open woodland on sandstone soils. It will grow in dry, acid, high aluminium soils that are infertile. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seed or tubers.
Propagation
Seed - it takes 8 - 10 days to germinate.
Other Uses
The plant is grown as a green manure, cover crop and for erosion-control. The plant is an excellent pioneer plant for growing on poor land in order to conserve and improve it.
Production
Seeds are produced about 90 days after planting.
Other Information
The roots are popular with hill tribes in India.
Notes
There are about 150 Vigna species. They are mostly in the tropics. The tubers have been shown to be 15% protein.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tubers | 79.6 | 302 | 72 | 2.1 | — | 11.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Root | 68.9 | 287 | 69 | 2.3 | — | — | 10 | 1.7 |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Bejuco marrullero, Bir ghangra, Bonoria urahi, Cam-demba-uri, Chandor, Chaoli, Dau co, Hadunda, Halgia, Halunda, Kaadu taguni, Mgcenga, Mukundulela, Munawana, Murudji, Musivha, Nkasa zimadeso, Nyemba, Obhombo, Qwruh-dibela, Wild mung, Wilde-ertjie, Wuliwirranga
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