Clitoria mariana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 45-60 cm tall. The leaves have 3 leaflets along the stalk. They are narrowly oval and 3-11 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers usually occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are light blue or purple. The pods are narrow and 3-10 cm long by 1 cm wide. There is a beak at the end. There can be 2 to many seeds.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In southern China it grows in forests between 100-2,000 m above sea level. It grows in hardiness zones 6-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, North America, SE Asia, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Poisonous

Edible parts

Poisonous

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Biec tim, Taw-peik-san, Taw-pesein

Synonyms

Martiusia mariana (L.) Small; Nauchea mariana (L.) Descourt.; Ternatea mariana (L.) Kuntze; Vexillaria mariana (L.) Raf.; Vexillaria mariana (L.) Eaton;