Common Name:

General Information

Vigna membranacea is an annual to perennial climbing or trailing plant, more rarely suberect. It produces stems 20 - 300cm long that scramble over the ground or twine into the surrounding vegetation[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern and eastern Africa - Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania.

Habitat

Grassland; scrub; dry evergreen forest; Acacia, Commiphora bushland; coastal mixed bushland; coastal grassland in thicket; woodland; swamp sides; Pennisetum formations; fallow land; at elevations up to 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

The leaves are eaten after frying or boiling and are said to taste like cowpea leaves[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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