Clitoria mariana

Fabaceae Edible: Poisonous Potential hazards — see below 7,023 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Clitoria mariana, known by the common names butterfly pea and Atlantic pigeon wings, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the pea family, Fabaceae. The plant is native to the United States.

Description

A herb. It grows 45-60 cm tall. The leaves have 3 leaflets along the stalk. They are narrowly oval and 3-11 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers usually occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are light blue or purple. The pods are narrow and 3-10 cm long by 1 cm wide. There is a beak at the end. There can be 2 to many seeds.

Edible Uses

No edible uses are known for this plant.

Traditional Uses

Poisonous

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The roots and seeds have been used medicinally, including as an aphrodisiac based on the ancient doctrine of signatures, though this has not been confirmed.

Known Hazards

Parts of the plant are poisonous. No further information given.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In southern China it grows in forests between 100-2,000 m above sea level. It grows in hardiness zones 6-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, North America, SE Asia, Thailand, USA, Vietnam,

Cultivation

A temperate perennial forb. Stems are erect to reclining or trailing, to 1.2m, glabrous to sparsely pubescent with short, fine, curved hairs. It is a twining vine and not a climbing vine so is often found growing along the ground. In southern China it grows in forests between 100-2,000m above sea level. It grows in hardiness zones 6-9. Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade. Preferred soil: Dry and Sandy. Bloom Color: Pink , Blue. Bloom Time: Jun to Aug. Herbaceous. Growth habit is a single or multiple shooting vine from a crown.