DESCRIPTION OF THE COWPEA 



391 



THE COWPEA 



494. Origin and Description. The cowpea, Vigna ungui- 

 culata, is a native of China, where it has been cultivated for 

 many 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 it 

 does 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 trailing or 



twining and grow several feet long. 



The leaflets are three in number; 



they vary in length from 2 to 6 



inches and are nearly as wide as 



they are long. The greenish-yellow 



flowers, whicK 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. 



495. Importance. The cowpea is fast becoming as 

 great a factor in the agriculture of the South as clover is in 

 that of the North or alfalfa in the West. As it grows only 

 in warm weather and needs a rather long season to develop, 

 it is confined largely to the Southern states, though a few 



Fig. 121. Cowpea branch 

 vith leaves, pods, and flowers. 



