Vigna vexillata (L.) A.Rich.

wild cowpea, narrow-leaved wild sweetpea

Afr

wilde-akkerboontjie, wilde-ertjie

isiZulu

isikhwali, ubombo, umcwasibe, umnxwasibe

IsiXhosa

Description

Family:

Fabaceae

Order:

Fabales

Description

Perennial climber with pink-purple flowers and edible tuberous roots. Nitrogen-fixing; drought-resistant.

Plant Details

Height

1 - 3 m (climbing)

Thorns

Absent

Soil

Sandy, well-drained

Fast

Growth Rate

1 - 3 m (climbing)

Size

Perennial

Lifespan

Flower Colour

Flowering Season

, ,

Horticultural Zones

Neutral

pH

Sandy, well-drained

Soil

Full sun

Aspect

Low

Frost Tolerance

High

Drought Resistance

Link to PlantzAfrica.co.za

Distribution

, ,

Companion Plants

Dioscorea spp.,Ipomoea spp.

Caterpillars

Not available

Associations

Descriptions

Insects:Pollinated by bees.Wildlife:Tubers eaten by bushpigs.Soil:Nitrogen fixer.

Flowers and fruits

Pink-purple flowers; pods dispersed by animals.

Birds

Not documented

By Seeds:

Scarify seeds; sow in spring.

By Cuttings:

Tuber division in dormancy.

Traditional Uses

Tubers for famine food; leaves for wounds.

Plant Details

Height

Description

Thorns

Description

Leaves

Description

Size

Growth Form

Size

Size

Size

Lifespan

Size

Flower Colour

Size

Flowering Season

Size

Horticultural Zones

Size

pH

Size

Soil

Size

Aspect

Size

Frost Tolerance

Size

Drought Resistance

Description

DESCRIPTION

Height

DESCRIPTION

Leaves

DESCRIPTION

Thorns

DESCRIPTION

BSS

Ecoscore

Host plant Nectar Grazing

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View

Distribution

Companion Plants

Description

Caterpillars

Associations

Leaves

Leaves

Flowers and fruits

Leaves

Birds

Leaves

Mammals

Leaves

By Seeds:

Leaves

By Cuttings:

Leaves

Traditional Uses

traditional uses