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cowpea
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cowpea
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cowpea
cowpea Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).

cowpea

plant
Also known as: China bean, Vigna unguiculata, black-eyed bean, black-eyed pea, southern pea
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Also called:
black-eyed pea or southern pea

cowpea, (Vigna unguiculata), annual plant within the pea family (Fabaceae) grown for its edible legumes. The plants are thought to be native to West Africa and are widely cultivated in warm regions around the world. In addition to their use as a protein-rich food crop, cowpeas are extensively grown as a hay crop and as a green manure or cover crop.

Cowpeas are typically climbing or trailing vines that bear compound leaves with three leaflets. The white, purple, or pale-yellow flowers usually grow in pairs or threes at the ends of long stalks. The pods are long and cylindrical and can grow 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) long, depending on the cultivar. The plants are heat-adapted and drought-tolerant.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
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legume
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garden pea pods common honey locust tamarind fruit guar legumes Legumes and amino acids
Understand how crop rotation in organic farming benefits the farmers as well as the environment and particularly the advantages of growing lentils
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Ceviche. Peruvian ceviche (sebiche). Raw seafood dish with lime, cilantro, peppers, plantains. Cuisine, food
A World of Food Quiz
Chef tossing vegetables in a frying pan over a burner (skillet, food).
What’s on the Menu? Vocabulary Quiz
Grains and spices in bags, India. (Indian, vendor, market, food)
Ultimate Foodie Quiz
Venus's-flytrap. Venus's-flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) one of the best known of the meat-eating plants. Carnivorous plant, Venus flytrap, Venus fly trap
Plants: From Cute to Carnivorous
Read Next
Feed corn ready for harvest after drying in the field, Kings Hill County, Virginia. Agriculture food grain cereal corncob
18 Food Crops Developed in the Americas
Flower bingo
Britannica’s Flower Bingo
Plant seedlings emerging from rich fertile soil
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garden pea pods
garden pea pods Garden pea pods (Pisum sativum).

legume

fruit of Fabaceae plants
Also known as: pod
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
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Last Updated: • Article History
Also called:
pod
Related Topics:
bean
peanut
soybean
pea
lentil
See all related content
common honey locust
common honey locustLeaves and pods of the common honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos).

legume, fruit of plants in the pea family (Fabaceae). Most legumes are dehiscent fruits that release their seeds by splitting open along two seams, though some, such as peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) and carobs (Ceratonia siliqua), do not naturally open. The fruits come in a variety of sizes and shapes; many, however, are long and narrow and bear their seeds in a single line. The largest legumes are borne by the monkey ladder (Entada gigas) and can reach up to 2 metres (6.6 feet) in length. At maturity, legume fruits are usually dry and papery or hard and woody; the legumes of certain food crops, such as snow peas (variety of Pisum sativum), edamame (Glycine max), and green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), are harvested while still green and fleshy.

tamarind fruit
1 of 2
tamarind fruitTamarind (Tamarindus indica) legume with pulp.
guar legumes
2 of 2
guar legumesGuar, or cluster beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), native to India.

Legumes furnish food for humans and animals and provide edible oils, fibres, and raw material for plastics. Many are grown for their edible seeds, which are high in protein and contain many of the essential amino acids. For important members of the legume family, see bean; chickpea; cowpea; lentil; pea; peanut; soybean; and tamarind.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
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Britannica Chatbot

Chatbot answers are created from Britannica articles using AI. This is a beta feature. AI answers may contain errors. Please verify important information using Britannica articles. About Britannica AI.