Centrosema plumieri

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A vine. It is twining. It grows 5 m long. The stems are smooth, cylinder shaped and green. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 4-11 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. The edges are wavy. The upper surfaces are shiny and sunken over the veins. The lower surfaces are dull and hairy. The end leaflet is D shaped. The side leaflets are narrowly oval. The leaf stalks are 6-10 cm long. The flowers occur singly or in pairs in axils near the ends of branches. They are at the end of long stalks. They are pink to red. The pods is flattened and narrow. They are 10-15 cm long by 1 cm wide. There is a long tip at the end. The edges are thickened.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows at lower altitudes in moist locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Nauru, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Sao Tome and Principe, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Bradburya plumieri (Pers.) Kuntze; Clitoria plumieri Turpin ex Pers.; Cruminium giganteum Desv.; and others