Yellow pea
Sphenostylis marginata subsp. erecta

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has long roots 60-90 cm long. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are narrowly oval and taper to the tip. The flowers are yellow and in clusters on the ends of long stalks.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows between 330-1,800 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers and occasionally the leaves are eaten cooked. The seeds or beans have been eaten in times of hunger. They are cooked in the pods.

Edible parts

Seeds, vegetable, flowers, leaves, tubers, root, pods

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chitupatupa, Karuburo, Kimamba, Mkhunga, Mlali, Ngunga, N'khunga

Synonyms

Dolichos marginata (Baker f.) E. Meyer subsp. erecta (Baker f.) Verdc.; Sphenostylis erecta (Baker f.) Bak. f.;