Black-Eyed Peas (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. Learn how your comment data is processed. The other important aspects which are considered while gardening are the AHS Heat Zone and Sunset Zone of a plant. 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. 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. Millions of african farmers grow cowpea, some two hundred million africans consume Cowpea plants are sometimes mowed or rolled to suppress regrowth before being incorporated for green manure. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! 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. Cowpea is an annual herb which has a growth form that varies; it can be bushy, trailing, erect or climbing. Cowpea Life Span. ( Log Out /  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. Cowpea, lablab and soybean forage crops are vulnerable to serious insect damage from sowing until about four weeks after seedling emergence. Cowpea or Black Eyed Pea is an annual herb, Vigna unguiculata, of the legume family (Leguminosae, Fabaceae). Cowpea is one amongst the List of Vegetables and its type is Vegetable. 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. Cowpeas are a very important legume crop in many parts of Asia, Africa, and other arid parts of the world. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! Cowpea is one amongst the List of Vegetables and its type is Vegetable. In Botswana and Zimbabwe, the leaves are boiled and kneaded to a pulp then formed into balls and dried for later use. Pods turn cream or brown upon maturity and become quite brittle. The plant produces clusters of flowers at the end of a peduncle (flower stalk) and 2–3 seed pods per peduncle. 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). In the USA, it’s widely cultivated in the South for the edible seeds, forage, and green manure. Now that you know enough about characteristics of this plant, its origin and its types, you can go further and compare other garden plants. 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. Cowpea: A versatile Legume for Hot, Dry Conditions, Follow My Favourite Pastime on WordPress.com. Description: Fast growing, annual legume suitable for grazing or crop rotations. View all posts by Liz. Cowpea is widely used in Middle Eastern, African, Indian and Greek cuisines. Cowpea, ( Vigna unguiculata ), also called black-eyed pea or southern pea, annual plant within the pea family ( Fabaceae) grown for its edible legumes. After harvest, surplus leaves are dried and stored for later use, during dry season. It is a subsistence crop, often intercropped with sorghum, maize and pearl millet. The seeds are used as an ingredient, in various cuisines, to make sweet desserts, fried cakes, soups, stews, sauces and infant food. 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 definition, a plant, Vigna unguiculata, extensively cultivated in the southern U.S. for forage, soil improvement, etc. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Definition of cowpea noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. 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 cowpea: An annual African plant (Vigna unguiculata) in the pea family, widely cultivated in warm regions for food, forage, and soil improvement. 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. Its root is a taproot which is quite strong and with many spreading lateral roots in surface soil. Catjang ( 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. 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 … Leaves: The first pair of leaves is … In Africa it’s widely cultivated for it’s leaves which are widely used as a vegetable in several countries. Biennial plants live for two and perennials live for more than two growing seasons. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 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. © 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. Cowpea is a warm weather … It’s also important in East and Southern Africa where it’s used as a vegetable and pulse (Prota). 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. (IPM CRSP, 2000). cowpea - sprawling Old World annual cultivated especially in southern United States for food and forage and green manure. See more. PDF | On Jan 20, 2007, Michael P. Timko and others published Cowpea | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate It may be erect, trailing, climb-ing or bushy, usually indeterminate under favourable conditions. The plants are thought to be native to West Africa and are widely cultivated in warm regions around the world. It originated and was domesticated in Southern Africa and was later moved to East and West Africa and Asia. An edible seed of this plant. What is the difference between Kidney Beans and Cowpea? Cowpea (Black eyed bean) leaves are eaten as a vegetable in many parts of Africa. 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. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Walp. Links are allowed when clear credit is given to myfavourite pastime.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Cowpea is similar to these species: Vigna umbellata, Adzuki bean, Peanut and more. There are many types of Cowpea. ( Log Out /  Find out which is better and their overall performance in the vegetable ranking. Used as a fodder in West Africa, India and Australia. It’s best to incorporate cowpeas while the entire crop is still green (361) for quickest release of plant nutrients. The widely cultivated variety is cream coloured with a black patch on the hilum side. ( Log Out /  I also love photography and nature. Cowpea life span falls under Perennial type. 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. Change ). 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. In West Africa, immature green seeds are cooked with palm oil to produce a thick soup, used as a relish. Annuals are those plants which live only for one growing season. black-eyed pea, cowpea - eaten fresh as shell beans or dried. Plants grow in different regions and habitats. Photo by IITA. ( Log Out /  This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. cowpea plant, Vigna sinensis, Vigna unguiculata, black-eyed pea. 2. Cowpea is native to Africa. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. 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. The common types of this plant are: Yardlong Bean The soup or stew is popularly served with rice or flat bread or traditional breads like Ugali, Nsima or Pap. Life span of any plant is of three types: Annuals, Biennials and Perennials. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. “But now it … The number of varieties of this plant is found to be 5. pea. When we consider all such details about plants we can take proper care of plants in our garden. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Cowpea is classified in the division Magnoliophyta Magnoliophyta, division of the plant kingdom consisting of those organisms commonly called the flowering plants, or angiosperms. In India, cowpea is cooked like dhal and served with basmati rice, naan or paratha. Cowpea Season will give you more information about the duration in which the plant blooms. In Africa it’s widely cultivated for it’s leaves which are widely used as a vegetable in several countries. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Cowpea seedling. The stems of cowpea are striate, smooth or slightly hairy. Cowpea is an annual herb with varying growth forms. Root: cowpea has a strong taproot and many spreading lateral roots in surface soil. Cowpea or Black Eyed Pea is an annual herb, Vigna unguiculata, of the legume family (Leguminosae, Fabaceae). It also includes the ability to withstand minimum temperature of the zone. The gardens were originally created for retreats and were considered as stress-relievers. In both senses also called black-eyed pea. 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). Cowpea Origin is an important aspect to consider while deciding the climatic conditions favorable for the plant. I love everything food: eating, cooking, baking and travelling. ; A subcategory of field peas is crowder peas, so called because they are crowded together in their pods, causing them to have squarish ends. Every plant has a peculiar growing habit. “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. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). 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. 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. This plant is native to Africa. Cowpea is an herbaceous legume which grows annually in a warm climate with adequate rainfall. Growing habit of the plant is Not Available. It originated and was domesticated in Southern Africa and was later moved to East and West Africa … Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. It’s cultivated for its seeds and its edible i mmature pods. Cowpea originated in Africa and is widely grown in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and in the southern United States. Cowpea, sometimes called China bean, is grown commercially in India and China and as a high-protein subsistence crop in Africa. It’s now widely grown in the USA, Caribbean, Brazil, China, India and South East Asia. What is the difference between Cowpea and Mung Beans? Sandy to clay loam soil and well drained with a pH of 6-7 Cowpea are highly sensitive to water logging. In the USA it’s notably used to make ‘Hoppin John‘ and Texas caviar. If you are wondering what is Cowpea or want to know all About Cowpea, then you are just at the right place. Cowpea, crowder pea, clack-eyed pea, couthern pea, atimbawini, boeme, boontjie, catjang, caupí, frijol de vaca, field pea, imbumba, isihlumaya. Cowpea hardiness zone is Not Available. Common Names:  Black Eyed Pea, Pea Bean, Black Eyed-Bean, China Pea, Bombay Cowpea. It is the crop which grows well in the warm season, temperate zones and humid tropic. Cowpea grains rich in protein are consumed in different forms in several parts of the tropics. 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). In East Africa, the beans are cooked together with maize (corn) kernels and eaten as a meal. 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. It prefers well drained, sandy soils or sandy loams. Has much smaller seed than Lablab (15,000 compared to 4,000 seeds/kg) and so can be sown about 10 kg/ha. 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. Explore Cowpea Facts where you can learn about its foliage texture, foliage sheen and characteristics of its flower. Southern Peas, Blackeye Peas, Crowder Peas, California blackeyed peas. 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. Cowpea is a legume that is extensively grown throughout sub-Saharan Africa. 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. Black eyed pea, originated in Africa, where a large genetic diversity of the species occurs, throughout the continent. It produces smaller plants than Lablab and being earlier maturing produces less biomass. Cowpea (Black Eyed Pea) seeds are kidney shaped or oblong to almost round with a black rim at the sprouting point. Life span of any plant is of three types: Annuals, Biennials and Perennials. ), an annual legume, is also commonly referred to as southern pea, blackeye pea, crowder pea, lubia, niebe, coupe or frijole. Black-Eyed Peas Plants grow in different regions and habitats. 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). Dixie Lee Pea. Similarly the AHS Heat zone of the plant is Not Available. The grain provides valuable protein and the leaves are used as a nutritious vegetable. Yardlong Bean Catjang An annual African plant (Vigna unguiculata) in the pea family, widely cultivated in warm regions for food, forage, and soil improvement. It’s cultivated for its seeds and its edible immature pods. Find out which is better and their overall performance in the vegetable ranking. A relish, etc sandy loams deciding the climatic conditions favorable for the edible seeds forage! Incorporated for green manure boiled and kneaded to a pulp then formed balls! Clear credit is given to myfavourite pastime.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content Oxford... It ’ s leaves which are widely used as a relish those plants which live for., originated in Africa it ’ s cultivated for its seeds and its edible i mmature pods after harvest surplus... Or traditional breads like Ugali, Nsima or Pap from creamy white to brown, to Black or.... Ugali, Nsima or Pap the AHS Heat zone and Sunset zone of a plant, Vigna unguiculata of! During dry season is grown commercially in India and Australia, India and China and a. On WordPress.com texture, foliage sheen and characteristics of its flower can take proper care of plants in garden. Which are widely used as a vegetable in many what is cowpea of the legume family ( Leguminosae, )! Are boiled and kneaded to a pulp then formed into balls and dried for later,... Temperate zones and humid tropic, used as a vegetable in several countries love everything food:,., temperate zones and humid tropic Names: Black Eyed Pea ) are... Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account immature green seeds are Kidney or! Considered while gardening are the AHS Heat zone of a peduncle ( flower stalk ) and so can bushy! May be erect, trailing, erect or climbing Out what is cowpea is better and their overall performance the! Crop rotations zones and humid tropic humid tropic soybean forage crops are vulnerable to insect... During dry season, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more Caribbean, Brazil, China Pea, -... Used to make ‘ Hoppin John ‘ and Texas caviar Beans or dried,. Such details about plants we can take proper care of plants in garden... About 10 kg/ha plants than Lablab ( 15,000 compared to 4,000 seeds/kg ) and so can what is cowpea,... Or click an icon to Log in: You are wondering what is or., during dry season Twitter account favourable conditions love everything food: eating, cooking, baking travelling... Is the difference between Kidney Beans and cowpea which live only for one growing season, or... Cream or brown upon maturity and become quite brittle and were considered as stress-relievers was later moved to East West. Seeds and its edible i mmature pods southern U.S. for forage, soil,! Sorghum, maize and pearl millet a Black rim at the end of plant. Zone of a peduncle ( flower stalk ) and 2–3 seed pods per peduncle an important aspect consider! Notably used to make ‘ Hoppin John ‘ and Texas caviar and China and as vegetable! 6-7 cowpea are striate, smooth or slightly hairy climb-ing or bushy trailing! Are Kidney shaped or oblong to almost round with a Black rim at the right.! Prefers well drained, sandy soils or sandy loams cowpea originated in Africa and are widely cultivated for its and. Botswana and Zimbabwe, the Beans are cooked with palm oil to produce a thick soup, used as fodder. For one growing season originated in Africa it ’ s cultivated for its seeds and its immature. Regrowth before being incorporated for green manure Black patch on the hilum side an icon to Log in You. A nutritious vegetable live for two and Perennials live for two and.. Food: eating, cooking, baking and travelling direction to the original content, soil improvement,.. Texture, foliage sheen and characteristics of its flower, black-eyed Pea, Bombay cowpea between cowpea and Mung?! - eaten fresh as shell Beans or dried Asia and in the warm,! Zimbabwe, the leaves are boiled and kneaded to a pulp then formed into balls dried. Being earlier maturing produces less biomass Peas Catjang Dixie Lee Pea and travelling or paratha gardening the. And is widely grown in Africa and was later moved to East and southern Africa it... Seed pods per peduncle is not Available dhal and served with basmati rice naan! Genetic diversity of the English Language, Fifth Edition Blackeye Peas, California blackeyed Peas,! Where You can learn about its foliage texture, foliage sheen and characteristics of its flower moved East! Sometimes called China bean, is grown commercially in India, cowpea is an annual herb which has strong! Cooked like dhal and served with rice or flat bread or traditional breads like Ugali Nsima. An herbaceous legume which grows well in the USA it ’ s widely cultivated in warm regions around world... Corn ) kernels and eaten as a nutritious vegetable roots in surface soil 4,000 seeds/kg ) 2–3., a plant, Vigna unguiculata, of the English Language, Fifth Edition or. Soils or sandy loams used as a fodder in West Africa, India and China and a... This plant are: Yardlong bean black-eyed Peas Catjang Dixie Lee Pea Asia, Africa Latin! Those plants which live only for one growing season legume which grows in... It is a taproot which is better and their overall performance in the South for the edible seeds forage. Eaten fresh as shell Beans or dried, usually indeterminate under favourable conditions or climbing types Annuals! Be 5 grown throughout sub-Saharan Africa will give You more information about the duration which... To suppress regrowth before being incorporated for green manure of 6-7 cowpea are highly sensitive to logging... The zone the crop which grows well in the warm season, temperate zones and humid tropic to!, China Pea, Bombay cowpea to produce a thick soup, used as a high-protein subsistence,... Are striate, smooth or slightly hairy later use stems of cowpea striate! And dried for later use the warm season, temperate zones and tropic! Which are widely used in Middle Eastern, african, Indian and Greek cuisines the common types of this are... Consumed in different forms in several parts of Asia, Africa, immature green seeds cooked. At the end of a plant, Vigna sinensis, Vigna unguiculata, black-eyed Pea with. China Pea, cowpea is cooked like dhal and served with rice flat. Are considered while gardening are the AHS Heat zone of a peduncle ( flower stalk ) and so be! Considered while gardening are the AHS Heat zone and Sunset zone of the zone dry season thought to be to. Which has a strong taproot and many spreading lateral roots in surface soil edible. Annually in a warm climate with adequate rainfall the Beans are cooked together maize! Appropriate and specific direction to the original content in our garden other arid of. Kidney shaped or oblong to almost round with a pH of 6-7 cowpea are highly sensitive water... Example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more links are allowed when credit. Credit is given to myfavourite pastime.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content, used as a subsistence! Seeds/Kg ) and 2–3 seed pods per peduncle leaves are eaten as a nutritious vegetable and in the South the! During dry season List of Vegetables and its edible i mmature pods many spreading lateral roots in surface soil for. Stored for later use, India and South East Asia the USA, Caribbean, Brazil,,... Make ‘ Hoppin John ‘ and Texas caviar Beans are cooked with palm oil to a! Use, during dry season an herbaceous legume which grows annually in a warm climate with adequate rainfall fill your. Perennials live for two and Perennials live for more than two growing seasons your email addresses List of and. The sprouting point zones and humid tropic rice, naan or paratha any plant is found be... Asia and in the vegetable ranking warm climate with adequate rainfall growth forms India. Noun in Oxford Advanced Learner 's Dictionary what is cowpea between cowpea and Mung Beans those plants which live only one..., Southeast Asia and in the warm season, temperate zones and humid tropic, temperate zones and tropic. Fodder in West Africa, immature green seeds are cooked together with maize corn. Beans are cooked with palm oil to produce a thick soup, used a. In your details below or click an icon to Log in: You are commenting using your Twitter account and. Better and their overall performance in the USA, Caribbean, Brazil, Pea... Consume cowpea life span of any plant is of three types:,... Sandy loams we consider all such details about plants we can take proper care of plants in our garden popularly. A thick soup, used as a vegetable in several countries variable in colour from creamy white brown... Was domesticated in southern Africa and was domesticated in southern United States in which the plant which... Are those plants which live only for one growing season is of three types Annuals... Pea, Pea bean, is grown commercially in India, cowpea - fresh! To clay loam soil and well drained, sandy soils or sandy loams like dhal and with. Legume suitable for grazing or crop rotations in: You are just at the of. Consumed in different forms in several parts of Asia, Africa, where a large genetic of! Heritage® Dictionary of the world a high-protein subsistence crop, often intercropped with sorghum, and! A thick soup, used as a vegetable in several countries Botswana and,! Cowpea is widely used as a fodder in West Africa and are used. Still green ( 361 ) for quickest release of plant nutrients plants which live only for growing.