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Wild Cowpea
ExplorePlants
Wild Cowpea
Vigna luteola
Wild Cowpea is a fun, climbing plant that grows in warm places. It has pretty leaves and can produce small, tasty beans that some animals love to eat!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Wild Cowpea is a slender, trailing, or climbing vine with trifoliate leaves, often heart-shaped. It has bright, pale yellow, pea-like flowers, followed by long, narrow seed pods. Its sprawling habit helps it spread widely across the ground or over other plants.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusVigna
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even though it's 'wild', its cousins give us many of the beans we eat!
Its seeds hide inside long, slender pods, like tiny wild green beans!
Some people call it 'Deer Pea' because deer love to munch on its leaves!
This vine can grow super fast, covering fences and even small trees!
Special abilities
Ability
Soil Enrichment
Wild Cowpea has special root nodules that host tiny helpers, enriching the soil with vital nitrogen for itself and nearby plants.
Ability
Climbing Grip
Wild Cowpea can use its flexible stems to twine around other plants or structures, reaching for more sunlight.
Ability
Drought Resilience
Wild Cowpea can withstand drier conditions, allowing it to thrive in places where many other plants might struggle to grow.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-150 cm
- Spread
- 50-200 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer, fall
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen from its flowers
eaten by
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
browses on its nutritious leaves and stems
symbiotic with
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Bradyrhizobium japonicum
lives in root nodules, converting nitrogen
Traits
Climbing/Vine
Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Wild Cowpea?
30-150 cm
How wide does Wild Cowpea spread?
50-200 cm
How big are the flowers on Wild Cowpea?
1-2 cm
When does Wild Cowpea bloom?
Summer, fall
Is Wild Cowpea edible?
Yes
Is Wild Cowpea toxic?
None
What is Wild Cowpea's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Wild Cowpea pollinated?
Insect
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