368 



FIELD CROPS 



centuries. Its introduction into the southern United States 

 dates back only a few decades. The plant, which is an annual, 

 resembles the bean much more closely than the pea, the habit 

 of growth and the forms of the leaves and seeds being quite 

 similar to the garden bean. The plants vary greatly in habit, 

 some of the varieties standing erect and reaching a height of 

 15 to 18 inches, while others are trail- 

 ing or twining and grow several feet 

 long. The leaflets are three in num- 

 ber; they vary in length from 2 to 6 

 inches and are nearly as wide as they 

 are long. The greenish-yellow flowers, 

 which are shaped like those of the pea, 

 are borne on long stalks. The pods 

 are several inches long, cylindrical, 

 and contain from six to fifteen seeds. 

 The seeds are about the size of a navy 

 bean, though there is wide variation 

 among the different varieties in the 

 size of the seed as well as in the color 

 of the seed coat. 



486. Varieties. Numerous vari- 

 eties of cowpeas are grown, the num- 

 ber of names probably reaching sev- 

 enty-five or one hundred . These vary 

 in habit of growth, shape and color of the seed, length of 

 growing season, and in other characters. One of the most com- 

 mon is the Whippoorwill, a vigorous-growing, fairly erect 

 variety with moftled reddish or chocolate-colored seeds. It 

 is largely grown for the production of both grain and hay. 

 The Iron has small, clay-colored seeds. The vine is an erect 

 grower, seeds freely, and as the plants are resistant to dis- 

 ease, it is coming to be a popular variety. The New Era and 

 one or two similar varieties of small-seeded, mottled peas which 

 grow erect and mature early are grown to some extent in the 



Figure 125. — Cowpea branch 

 with leaves, pods, and 

 flowers. 



