cowpea

/kow"pee'/, n.

1. a plant, Vigna unguiculata, extensively cultivated in the southern U.S. for forage, soil improvement, etc.

2. the seed of this plant, used for food. Also called black-eyed pea.

[1810-20, Amer.; COW¹ + PEA]

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or black-eyed pea

Any of the cultivated forms of the annual legume Vigna unguiculata.

The plants are believed to be native to India and the Middle East but in early times were cultivated in China. The compound leaves have three leaflets. The white, purple, or pale-yellow flowers usually grow in twos or threes at the ends of long stalks. The pods are long and cylindrical. In the southern U.S. the cowpea is grown extensively as a hay crop, as a cover or green-manure crop, or for the edible beans.

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▪ plant

also called  black-eyed pea 

      cultivated forms of Vigna unguiculata, annual plants within the pea family (Fabaceae). In other countries they are commonly known as China bean, or black-eyed bean. The plants are believed to be native to India and the Middle East but in early times were cultivated in China. The compound leaves have three leaflets. The white, purple, or pale-yellow flowers usually grow in pairs or threes at the ends of long stalks. The pods are long and cylindrical. Those of V. unguiculata, variety catjang grow 7.5–12.5 centimetres (3–5 inches) long; those of V. unguiculata, variety sinensis grow 20–30 cm (7 ²/₃–11 ²/₃ inches) long. In the southern United States the cowpea is extensively grown as a hay crop, as a green-manure crop, or for the beans, which are used for human consumption.

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