Cowpea

Cowpea
Cowpeas
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Vigna
Species:	V. unguiculata
Binomial name
Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.
Synonyms[1][2][3]
List Dolichos biflorus L. Dolichos catiang L. Dolichos catjang Burm.f. nom. illeg. Dolichos catjang L. Dolichos hastifolius Schnizl. Dolichos lubia Forssk. Dolichos melanophthalamus DC. Dolichos monachalis Brot. Dolichos obliquifolius Schnizl. Dolichos sesquipedalis L. Dolichos sinensis Forssk. nom. illeg. Dolichos sinensis L. Dolichos sphaerospermus (L.) DC. Dolichos tranquebaricus Jacq. Dolichos unguiculata L. Dolichos unguiculatus Thunb. Liebrechtsia scabra De Wild. Phaseolus cylindricus L. Phaseolus sphaerospermus L. Phaseolus unguiculatus (L.) Piper Scytalis hispida E.Mey. Scytalis protracta E.Mey. Scytalis tenuis E.Mey. Vigna alba (G.Don) Baker f. Vigna angustifoliolata Verdc. Vigna baoulensis A.Chev. Vigna catjang (Burm.f.) Walp. Vigna coerulea Baker Vigna dekindtiana Harms Vigna hispida (E.Mey.) Walp. Vigna huillensis Baker Vigna malosana Baker Vigna protracta (E.Mey.) Walp. Vigna pubescens R.Wilczek Vigna rhomboidea Burtt Davy Vigna scabra (De Wild.) T.Durand & H.Durand Vigna scabrida Burtt Davy Vigna sesquipedalis (L.) F. Agcaoili nom. illeg. Vigna sesquipedalis (L.) Fruwirth Vigna sinensis (L.) Endl. ex Hassk. nom. illeg. Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hausskn. Vigna tenuis (E.Mey.) F.Dietr. Vigna triloba var. stenophylla Harv.

The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus Vigna. Its tolerance for sandy soil and low rainfall have made it an important crop in the semiarid regions across Africa and Asia. It requires very few inputs, as the plant's root nodules are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it a valuable crop for resource-poor farmers and well-suited to intercropping with other crops. The whole plant is used as forage for animals, with its use as cattle feed likely responsible for its name.

Four subspecies of cowpeas are recognised, of which three are cultivated. A high level of morphological diversity is found within the species with large variations in the size, shape, and structure of the plant. Cowpeas can be erect, semierect (trailing), or climbing. The crop is mainly grown for its seeds, which are high in protein, although the leaves and immature seed pods can also be consumed.

Cowpeas were domesticated in Africa^[4] and are one of the oldest crops to be farmed. A second domestication event probably occurred in Asia, before they spread into Europe and the Americas. The seeds are usually cooked and made into stews and curries, or ground into flour or paste.

Most cowpeas are grown on the African continent, particularly in Nigeria and Niger, which account for 66% of world production. A 1997 estimate suggests that cowpeas are cultivated on 12.5 million hectares (31 million acres) of land, have a worldwide production of 3 million tonnes and are consumed by 200 million people on a daily basis.^[5] Insect infestation is a major constraint to the production of cowpea, sometimes causing over 90% loss in yield.^[6] The legume pod borer Maruca vitrata is the main preharvest pest of the cowpea and the cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus the main postharvest pest.