Vigna monophylla

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An erect or trailing herb. It grows 60 cm tall. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a slender tuber like root. This can be 7 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The stems are angled. The leaves are simple and the blade is oval or sword shaped. They can be 2-12 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The flowers can be yellow, white or purple. The fruit is a pod 4-5 cm long by 3-4 mm wide. The seeds are small and 2-3 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open woodland and wet grassland. It grows between 1,000-1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Emisino mpungu

Synonyms

Dolichos gardneri Baker f.; Haydonia monophylla (Taub.) R. Wilczek; Vigna ostinii Chiov.;