Hairypod Cowpea
Vigna luteola
- Native to:
- Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cayman Is., Chad, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Galápagos, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Windward Is., Zambia, Zimbabwe
Bob Peterson (www.flickr.com) from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth!
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Vigna
- Species:
- Vigna luteola
- USDA Symbol:
- VILU3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Caribbean pod borer (Fundella pellucens), Epinotia perplexana, Ufa rubedinella, velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in coastal and wetland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Warm temperatures preferred.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI