Hairypod Cowpea

(Vigna luteola)

Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae

• Phylum: Tracheophyta

• Class: Magnoliopsida

• Order: Fabales

• Family: Fabaceae

• Genus: Vigna

• Species: Vigna luteola

Common Names

• Hairypod Cowpea

• Wild Cowpea

• Yellow Vigna

Identification

• Leaves: Compound with three leaflets, each leaflet ovate to elliptical, edges often slightly wavy, surface can be hairy.

• Flowers: Bright yellow, typically small, borne singly or in few-flowered clusters on short stalks emerging from leaf axils.

• Fruit: Pods are slender, elongated, slightly curved, covered with fine hairs, containing several seeds.

• Root: Nitrogen-fixing nodules often present, enhancing soil fertility.

Habitat

• Distribution: Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, widely distributed along coastal areas.

• Natural Habitat: Commonly found in sandy soils, dunes, and other well-drained soils near shores, often in disturbed or secondary growth areas.

Ecological Role

• Pollination: Flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

• Fauna Relationships: The plant serves as a food source for various insects and mammals. Seeds are consumed by birds and small animals.

Uses

• Agricultural: Sometimes used as a cover crop or green manure because of its nitrogen-fixing ability and rapid growth.

• Environmental: Useful in erosion control due to its capability to stabilize soil with its root system.

• Culinary: Seeds can be cooked and eaten similar to other cowpeas, though it is less commonly used for this purpose than more cultivated relatives.

Conservation

• Status: Not considered at risk. It is widespread and often abundant in suitable habitats.

• Conservation Efforts: Generally not a focus of conservation efforts due to its robustness and common occurrence.

Research

• Limited research on its potential as a sustainable crop in marginal environments and its ecological impact in non-native areas where it may become invasive.