There are many types of Cowpea. It’s best to incorporate cowpeas while the entire crop is still green (361) for quickest release of plant nutrients. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Photo by IITA. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is widely cultivated across the world.Due to its symbiotic nitrogen fixation capability and many agronomically important traits, such as tolerance to low rainfall and low fertilization requirements, as well as its high nutrition and health benefits, cowpea is an important legume crop, especially in many semi-arid countries. See more. Description: Fast growing, annual legume suitable for grazing or crop rotations. What is the difference between Kidney Beans and Cowpea? Cowpea or Black Eyed Pea is an annual herb, Vigna unguiculata, of the legume family (Leguminosae, Fabaceae). PDF | On Jan 20, 2007, Michael P. Timko and others published Cowpea | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate Cowpea originated in Africa and is widely grown in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and in the southern United States. Catjang After harvest, surplus leaves are dried and stored for later use, during dry season. An edible seed of this plant. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. In Africa the leaves are also sun-dried, stored for later as a vegetable during dry season.They can be sun-dried after harvest or boiled and then sun-dried. Although it is mostly grown for its edible dry seeds, the leaves, green peas and green pea pods are also eaten, especially in Africa and India. Catjang The plant produces clusters of flowers at the end of a peduncle (flower stalk) and 2–3 seed pods per peduncle. Find out which is better and their overall performance in the vegetable ranking. Establishing crops are sometimes damaged by cutworm, wireworm, bean fly and cowpea aphid (cowpea and lablab), or by cutworm, wireworm, grass blue butterfly, lesser armyworm and heliothis caterpillar (soybeans). ( Log Out /  Cowpea grains rich in protein are consumed in different forms in several parts of the tropics. These versatile and hardy peas from the Vigna genus are able to grow in harsh, unforgiving climates, providing people in those areas with a dense form of nutrients. Black-Eyed Peas They are extremely variable in colour from creamy white to brown, to black or pink. Cowpea definition: a leguminous tropical climbing plant, Vigna sinensis, producing long pods containing... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples It also includes the ability to withstand minimum temperature of the zone. The seeds are used as an ingredient, in various cuisines, to make sweet desserts, fried cakes, soups, stews, sauces and infant food. Pods turn cream or brown upon maturity and become quite brittle. Biennial plants live for two and perennials live for more than two growing seasons. ( Log Out /  Growing habit of the plant is Not Available. In both senses also called black-eyed pea. Cowpea is an annual herb with varying growth forms. Cowpea is a warm weather … (IPM CRSP, 2000). Cowpea is one amongst the List of Vegetables and its type is Vegetable. ; A subcategory of field peas is crowder peas, so called because they are crowded together in their pods, causing them to have squarish ends. It prefers well drained, sandy soils or sandy loams. As a result of human selection in China, India and South-East Asia, cowpea underwent further diversification to produce two cultivar-groups, Sesquipedalis Group (yard-long beans) with long pods used as a vegetable, and Biflora Group, grown for the pods, dry seeds and for fodder. Similarly the AHS Heat zone of the plant is Not Available. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), an indigenous legume to sub-Saharan Africa, is mainly grown in the dry savanna areas as an intercrop with millets, sorghum, groundnut and maize. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), is a food and animal feed crop grown in the semi-arid tropics covering Africa, Asia, Europe, United States and Central and South America. Walp. Cowpea is a legume that is extensively grown throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Cowpeas are a very important legume crop in many parts of Asia, Africa, and other arid parts of the world. Plants grow in different regions and habitats. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Black eyed pea, originated in Africa, where a large genetic diversity of the species occurs, throughout the continent. Synonyms for cowpea include black-eyed pea, bachapin bean, black-eyed bean, black eyed cowpea, black eyed dolichos, black-eye pea, blackeye pea, common cowpea, cowgram and cow pea. The stems of cowpea are striate, smooth or slightly hairy. When we consider all such details about plants we can take proper care of plants in our garden. Every plant has a peculiar growing habit. Cowpea Life Span. 2. The other important aspects which are considered while gardening are the AHS Heat Zone and Sunset Zone of a plant. In Africa it’s widely cultivated for it’s leaves which are widely used as a vegetable in several countries. I love everything food: eating, cooking, baking and travelling. cowpea plant, Vigna sinensis, Vigna unguiculata, black-eyed pea. This plant is from A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Sunset zone. An annual African plant (Vigna unguiculata) in the pea family, widely cultivated in warm regions for food, forage, and soil improvement. Cowpea, sometimes called China bean, is grown commercially in India and China and as a high-protein subsistence crop in Africa. The common types of this plant are: Yardlong Bean ( Log Out /  Cowpea is widely used in Middle Eastern, African, Indian and Greek cuisines. Cowpea is an herbaceous legume which grows annually in a warm climate with adequate rainfall. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Used as a fodder in West Africa, India and Australia. Find out which is better and their overall performance in the vegetable ranking. Cowpea can be grown on a wide range of soil, from predominantly sandy loam to clay ranging from acidic to basic (pH 4.5 - 8.0). Hardiness zone of a plant is a geographically defined area in which, a particular type of plant is capable of growing according to the climatic conditions. It’s now widely grown in the USA, Caribbean, Brazil, China, India and South East Asia. It originated and was domesticated in Southern Africa and was later moved to East and West Africa and Asia. In India, cowpea is cooked like dhal and served with basmati rice, naan or paratha. Annuals are those plants which live only for one growing season. Dixie Lee Pea, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. Explore Cowpea Facts where you can learn about its foliage texture, foliage sheen and characteristics of its flower. Cowpea or Black Eyed Pea is an annual herb, Vigna unguiculata, of the legume family (Leguminosae, Fabaceae). Dixie Lee Pea. Cowpea life span falls under Perennial type. Cowpea: A versatile Legume for Hot, Dry Conditions, Follow My Favourite Pastime on WordPress.com. The plants are thought to be native to West Africa and are widely cultivated in warm regions around the world. Life span of any plant is of three types: Annuals, Biennials and Perennials. The mature seeds are cooked and eaten alone, or cooked together with vegetables, spices and palm oil, to produce a thick bean soup, which accompanies the staple food (cassava, yam, plantain). Definition of cowpea noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Life span of any plant is of three types: Annuals, Biennials and Perennials. In Botswana and Zimbabwe, the leaves are boiled and kneaded to a pulp then formed into balls and dried for later use. The soup or stew is popularly served with rice or flat bread or traditional breads like Ugali, Nsima or Pap. The grain provides valuable protein and the leaves are used as a nutritious vegetable. The leaves are boiled and fried with onions, tomatoes and spices and served with staple food such as cassava, yam, plantain or Ugali, Nsima or Pap. ( Log Out /  In West Africa, immature green seeds are cooked with palm oil to produce a thick soup, used as a relish. Cowpea hardiness zone is Not Available. Has much smaller seed than Lablab (15,000 compared to 4,000 seeds/kg) and so can be sown about 10 kg/ha. Cowpea, ( Vigna unguiculata ), also called black-eyed pea or southern pea, annual plant within the pea family ( Fabaceae) grown for its edible legumes. Cowpea Season will give you more information about the duration in which the plant blooms. Cowpea is one amongst the List of Vegetables and its type is Vegetable. Cowpea is the grain legume of choice for the Sahelian zone and the contiguous savannas, both of which are densely populated, erratically dry, and vulnerable to mass outbreaks of … Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Cowpea definition, a plant, Vigna unguiculata, extensively cultivated in the southern U.S. for forage, soil improvement, etc. It’s cultivated for its seeds and its edible immature pods. It is the crop which grows well in the warm season, temperate zones and humid tropic. Black-Eyed Peas It may be erect, trailing, climb-ing or bushy, usually indeterminate under favourable conditions. This plant is native to Africa. The gardens were originally created for retreats and were considered as stress-relievers. It is a subsistence crop, often intercropped with sorghum, maize and pearl millet. Cowpea is susceptible to over 140 viruses, about 20 different virus species are known to naturally infect cowpea around the world and be capable of economic damage (Hampton, Thottappilly & Rossel, 1997; Taiwo & Shoyinka, 1998). Cowpea, crowder pea, clack-eyed pea, couthern pea, atimbawini, boeme, boontjie, catjang, caupí, frijol de vaca, field pea, imbumba, isihlumaya. View all posts by Liz. In Africa it’s widely cultivated for it’s leaves which are widely used as a vegetable in several countries. black-eyed pea, cowpea - eaten fresh as shell beans or dried. cowpea: An annual African plant (Vigna unguiculata) in the pea family, widely cultivated in warm regions for food, forage, and soil improvement. (kou′pē′) n. 1. Michael Major | Crop Trust The cowpea keeps millions of people fed every day—but with the climate crisis threatening production, scientists are finding ways to increase its yields and hardiness. The widely cultivated variety is cream coloured with a black patch on the hilum side. Cowpea definition is - a sprawling herb (Vigna unguiculata synonym V. sinensis) of the legume family related to the bean and widely cultivated in the southern U.S. for forage, green manure, and edible seeds; also : its edible seed —called also black-eyed pea, field pea. Cowpea is an annual herb which has a growth form that varies; it can be bushy, trailing, erect or climbing. Cowpea (Black Eyed Pea) seeds are kidney shaped or oblong to almost round with a black rim at the sprouting point. Cowpea is the most important pulse crop in the savanna regions of West and Central Africa, where it is also an important vegetable and a valuable source of fodder. “But now it … Southern Peas, Blackeye Peas, Crowder Peas, California blackeyed peas. Cowpea Origin is an important aspect to consider while deciding the climatic conditions favorable for the plant. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Leaves: The first pair of leaves is … Common Names:  Black Eyed Pea, Pea Bean, Black Eyed-Bean, China Pea, Bombay Cowpea. Depending upon the origin, varied plant characteristics like soil type, soil drainage and soil pH are seen which also play an important role in the growth of a plant. In the USA it’s notably used to make ‘Hoppin John‘ and Texas caviar. Learn how your comment data is processed. Knowing Cowpea life span is important when you plan to design your garden, as a good gardener needs to know the growing season of plants. ), an annual legume, is also commonly referred to as southern pea, blackeye pea, crowder pea, lubia, niebe, coupe or frijole. Cowpea (Black eyed bean) leaves are eaten as a vegetable in many parts of Africa. It’s cultivated for its seeds and its edible i mmature pods. Cowpea seedling. Cowpea is classified in the division Magnoliophyta Magnoliophyta, division of the plant kingdom consisting of those organisms commonly called the flowering plants, or angiosperms. Change ). Sandy to clay loam soil and well drained with a pH of 6-7 Cowpea are highly sensitive to water logging. It originated and was domesticated in Southern Africa and was later moved to East and West Africa … pea. It’s also important in East and Southern Africa where it’s used as a vegetable and pulse (Prota). In East Africa, the beans are cooked together with maize (corn) kernels and eaten as a meal. What is the difference between Cowpea and Mung Beans? © My Favourite Pastime 2018, unauthorized use and / or duplication of this material without written permission from the author / owner of this blog is strictly prohibited. For too long, a versatile crop, capable of providing huge benefits for health and wealth stayed on the sidelines, largely below its economic potential and comparatively neglected by research. Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, is a climbing annual in the family Fabaceae grown for its edible seeds and pods.The cowpea plant is usually erect and possess ribbed stems and smooth trifoliate leaves which are arranged alternately on the stems. Its root is a taproot which is quite strong and with many spreading lateral roots in surface soil. Cowpea plants are sometimes mowed or rolled to suppress regrowth before being incorporated for green manure. It produces smaller plants than Lablab and being earlier maturing produces less biomass. The number of varieties of this plant is found to be 5. cowpea - sprawling Old World annual cultivated especially in southern United States for food and forage and green manure. “The cowpea has nourished people for many centuries,” said Ousmane Boukar, a cowpea breeder working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria. Root: cowpea has a strong taproot and many spreading lateral roots in surface soil. Millions of african farmers grow cowpea, some two hundred million africans consume Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Knowing Cowpea life span is important when you plan to design your garden, as a good gardener needs to know the growing season of plants. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Links are allowed when clear credit is given to myfavourite pastime.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, is an important grain legume adapted to the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where it contributes to the nutrition, health, and income of rural and suburban inhabitants. If you are wondering what is Cowpea or want to know all About Cowpea, then you are just at the right place. I also love photography and nature. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Yardlong Bean ( Vigna unguiculata ) Cowpea is a food and animal feed crop grown in the semi-arid tropics covering Africa, Asia, Europe, United States and Central and South America. Plants grow in different regions and habitats. Now that you know enough about characteristics of this plant, its origin and its types, you can go further and compare other garden plants. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! 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