DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF COWPEA VARIETIES. 



19 



of the variety was certain, shown any notable variations in size or 

 vigor of the plants. 



DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF COWPEA VARIETIES. 



The distinguishing characters of cowpea varieties are. except for 

 the color of flowers and color and shape of the seeds, subtle and diffi- 

 cult to define. In the descriptions here given the following categories 

 of characters are considered and their various differences defined as 

 indicated. 



HABIT OF PLANT. 



The different varieties of cowpeas show every possible habit stage 

 from perfectly prostrate to perfectly erect. With a very few ex- 

 ceptions the branches are viny and also twining, at least toward the 

 tips. Notwithstanding the great differences in habit the type of 

 branching is the same in all the cultivated vignas. The great differ- 

 ences displayed are dependent primarily on the degree of develop- 

 ment of the branches. The development of the lower or basal 

 branches is much greater when the plants are isolated. When grow- 

 ing close together the development of these branches is inhibited or 

 else they become ascending, due to crowding and shading. For com- 

 parative purposes it is perhaps most useful to consider the type of 

 habit exhibited by a variety when planted in rows 2J to 3 feet apart, 

 a common method of planting. When planted in corn the vining 

 habit of the plant becomes more greatly developed and when sown 

 thickly broadcast the bushy habit predominates. For convenience 

 five types of plants as to habit may be recognized and defined as 

 follows : 



1. Prostrate. — The whole plant lying prone on the ground. 



2. Procumbent. — Stems and branches weak, forming a low, flat mass. When 



planted in a row the mass of vines is two to four times as broad as 

 high. 



3 Low, half bushy. — Mass of vines in rows once to twice as broad as high; 

 basal branches prostrate or but slightly ascending; pods, therefore, 

 held low, many of them touching the ground. 



4. Tall, half bushy. — Main axis tall and comparatively stout, usually twining 



at top ; branches mostly ascending, few, if .any. prostrate : pods, there- 

 fore, held comparatively high. Examples. Whippoorwill and New Era. 



5. Treelike or erect. — Main axis tall, erect, twining not at all. or only at the 



top ; branches mostly short, the long basal ones being absent or only 

 occasionally found. 



Unsatisfactory as this or any such classification may be. it never- 

 theless indicates with a reasonable degree of clearness the range of 

 habit exhibited by the cultivated vignas. All these characters show 

 much variation due to vigor, stoutness, and richness of branching, in 

 which there is practically every possible step represented in our 



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