Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae | > | Vigna | > | unguiculata |
Synonyms: |
Dolichos catjang Burm. f. Dolichos sinensis L. Dolichos unguiculatus L. Phaseolus cylindricus L. Vigna catjang (Burm. f.) Walp Vigna sinensis (L.) Hassk. Vigna unguiculata (l.) Walp. subsp. cylindrica (L.) Verdc. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Annual or perennial herb, creeping, climbing or sometimes erect, with stems 0.5–3 m long. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate, rhombic or lanceolate to linear, 1.5–16.5 cm long, lateral leaflets oblique, all entire or terminal leaflet subhastate to deeply 3-lobed at the base and lateral leaflets lobed on the outer margin, hairless to pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 1.5–13 cm long; stipules attached in the middle, upper part lanceolate, 6–20 mm long, spur narrower, 2–6 mm long. Peduncle 2–36 cm long. Flower pink to purple, 15–33 mm long, standard with 2 parallel widely spaced appendages. Pod linear-cylindric, up to 10 cm long, hairless, scabrous, or pubescent. |
Notes: | This is an extremely variable species with 5 subspecies recorded for Zimbabwe as well as several forms known from cultivation. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | In grassland, woodland and along edges of forest, often as a weed in disturbed areas or near water. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1900 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Euchrysops malathana (Food plant) Maruca vitrata (Larval food plant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Sunday 20 May 2018 |
Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 42 - 43. (Includes a picture). Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 138 - 144. (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 52. As various subspecies and varieties |
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