Common Name: Butterfly Pea

General Information

Butterfly pea is a perennial shrub with deep, woody roots[]. The stem is semi-decumbent or erect, 20 - 90 cm tall[].
The plant is widely cultivated as a green manure and soil stabilizer throughout the tropics[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central and tropical S. America.

Habitat

Common in thickets and open sites, along roadsides and on slopes, especially on sandy and red clay soils[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.70 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid, lowland tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 28°c, but can tolerate 17 - 34°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 530 - 2,800mm[].
Prefers a well-drained soil and a position in full sun[]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 5, tolerating 4 - 5.5[].

A plant of the humid, lowland tropics, it is usually found in areas that experience about 2,000 mm annual rainfall, though it has been known to succeed with as little as 500 mm[].
Plants can escape from cultivation and become weeds outside their native range[].
Plants require little care once established[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are used to cure pimples[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Widely grown as a green manure and cover crop in rubber and coffee plantations[]. It is also planted in contour strips to control erosion[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - usually broadcast in situ, though it is sometimes sown in rows[].

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