Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.[Agg]

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Our Camp area along road to Mpawe Village, Coutada 12, Cheringoma

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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 2 subspecies recorded for Botswana 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.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Africa.
Botswana distribution:	N,SW,SE
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
Content 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

Other sources of information about Vigna unguiculata:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Vigna unguiculata
Flora of Caprivi: Vigna unguiculata
Flora of Malawi: Vigna unguiculata
Flora of Mozambique: Vigna unguiculata
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Vigna unguiculata
Flora of Zambia: Vigna unguiculata
Flora of Zimbabwe: Vigna unguiculata
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Vigna unguiculata

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Vigna unguiculata
African Plant Database: Vigna unguiculata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Vigna unguiculata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Vigna unguiculata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Vigna unguiculata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Vigna unguiculata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Vigna unguiculata
JSTOR Plant Science: Vigna unguiculata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Vigna unguiculata
Plants of the World Online: Vigna unguiculata
Tropicos: Vigna unguiculata
Wikipedia: Vigna unguiculata