Vigna luteola (Jacq.) Benth.

Wild Cow Pea

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Wild Cow Pea is a native herbaceous perennial vine in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to coastal and near coastal areas of south Alabama. Wild Cow Pea occurs on beaches, in marshes, along waterways, and in disturbed habitats near the coast. It is a short-lived perennial vine climbing by twining. The stems are green in color, 3-9 feet in length, glabrous or inconspicuously pubescent, and rooting when in contact with the soil. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and pinnately trifoliate. Leaflets are ovate to lanceolate in outline, entire, sparsely pubescent on both surfaces, and slightly thickened or coriaceous. Flowers are produced in long peduncled racemes from the axils of the leaves. Usually 2-3 flowers per raceme are open at one time. The individual flowers are papilionaceous and a bright lemon yellow in color. The fruit is a pubescent cylindrical legume with 7-9 seed. Wild Cow Pea is tolerant of saline soils, and is cultivated in some countries to provide forage for domestic livestock. Extracts of Wild Cow Pea have shown promising results for the regulation of lipid adsorption and control of cholesterol levels. The flowers and seed are edible cooked, and the peeled roots contain a sweet juice.—A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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