Common Name: Zombi Pea

General Information

Vigna vexillata is a very variable, perennial climbing plant producing annual 0.3 - 6 metres long stems from a tuberous, spindle-shaped, woody rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground and twine into the surrounding vegetation[, ].
The plant is a very important food crop in several areas, such as Namibia, where it is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. Its use has spread beyond its native range and the plant is now sometimes cultivated for its edible tubers. It is also grown as a green manure and ground cover crop, especially in poor soils.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Pantropical - probably originating in the Old World tropics with centres of diversity in southeast Africa and southeast Asia.

Habitat

Grassland; grassland with scattered trees; thicket; Acacia, Commiphora bushland; forest; abandonned cultivations; near beach behind dunes; secondary formations; meadows; sunny places; grassy inundated plain; etc[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to humid tropics, where it is found from sea level to elevations of 1,500 metres[]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 20 - 28°c, but is tolerant of 15 - 32°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 2,100mm, tolerating 650 - 4,200mm[].
Prefers a sunny position[]. Plants can be found in the deep shade of trees in the wild[]. Grows best in a light to medium, well-drained soil[]. Tolerant of occasional waterlogging[]. Succeeds in poor soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, but can tolerate 5.5 - 8[].
A fast-growing plant from seed, quickly covering the ground[].
Flowering occurs 3 - 4 months after planting, and the seedpods ripen about 1 month later. When the fruits are ripe, the tubers are also ready for harvesting[].
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[]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked[]. The tubers have a soft, easily peeled skin and creamy, tasty flesh[]. They can be boiled or roasted like sweet potato or cassava[, ]. Particularly rich in protein, with Indian samples containing 15% protein[]. The plant produces a number of tubers on thread-like roots - these can lay quite deeply in the soil[].

Young leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].
Leaves and young shoots. They are cut into small pieces and cooked with salt and chilli, and garnished with mustard seeds, curry leaves and onions in oil[].

Young pods - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Seeds - cooked[, ]. They are are eaten as a pulse in India[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a green manure, cover crop and for erosion-control[]. The plant is an excellent pioneer plant for growing on poor land in order to conserve and improve it[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - it takes 8 - 10 days to germinate[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: 10 times itself is?