Clitoria ternatea L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Crocodile Farm, Kariba

Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique

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Synonyms:	Clitorea tanganicensis Micheli
Common names:	Blue Pidgeon-wings (English) Butterfly pea (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Probably introduced
Description:	Perennial climbing or trailing herb, growing from a woody rootstock. Leaves imparipinnate with 2-4 pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet. Leaflets ovate to elliptic-oblong, up to 6.5 × 4 cm, mostly hairless above, pubescent below. Flowers axillary, solitary or 2 together, resupinate, large and showy, bright blue with a with centre, sometimes completely white. Standard up to 5 × 4 cm. Pod linear-oblong, 6-13 cm long, flattened, mucronate at the apex, hairless or finely pubescent.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Occurring in hot areas of open woodland and wooded grassland, usually near rivers or lakeshores, often in disturbed places.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1000 m
Flowering time:	All year
Worldwide distribution:	Pantropical. Its true origins are now uncertain due to widespread cultivation.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,E
Growth form(s):	Climber.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Tuesday 28 July 2009
Literature:	Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 217. Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 34 - 36. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 46.

Other sources of information about Clitoria ternatea:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Clitoria ternatea
Flora of Malawi: Clitoria ternatea
Flora of Mozambique: Clitoria ternatea
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Clitoria ternatea
Flora of Zambia: Clitoria ternatea
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Clitoria ternatea

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Clitoria ternatea
African Plant Database: Clitoria ternatea
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Clitoria ternatea
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Clitoria ternatea
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Clitoria ternatea
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Clitoria ternatea
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Clitoria ternatea
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Clitoria ternatea
iNaturalist: Clitoria ternatea
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Clitoria ternatea
JSTOR Plant Science: Clitoria ternatea
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Clitoria ternatea
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Clitoria ternatea
Plants of the World Online: Clitoria ternatea
Tropicos: Clitoria ternatea
Wikipedia: Clitoria ternatea