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Centrosema virginianum
  • Butterfly Pea

a perennial member of the Centrosema genus in the family Leguminosae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Green manure
    Green manure
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Earth stabiliser
    Earth stabiliser
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Nitrogen fixer
    Nitrogen fixer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Indirect sun
    Indirect sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementslow
    Low
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
    Very acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 12
    Zone 12
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • 12
    Zone 12
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Flowers and peas can be eaten.

There are no edible uses listed for Centrosema virginianum.

Material uses

The plant can be allowed to grow without supports and it will then sprawl over the ground as an effective ground cover[1].

Plants have been grown as a green manure[1].

The plants extensive root system makes it useful for stabilizing soils and controlling erosion[1].
There are no material uses listed for Centrosema virginianum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Make a poultice from the leaves with a pinch of salt and use to reduce swelling.

There are no medicinal uses listed for Centrosema virginianum.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Green manure


Ground cover


Earth stabiliser


Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a greenhouse in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant out in the summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Centrosema virginianum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in any sandy or loamy soil in a sunny position[1]. Tolerant of poor acid soils, dry soils and drought[1].

A climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around other plants[1].

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Centrosema virginianum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Centrosema virginianum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Centrosema virginianum
Genus
Centrosema
Family
Leguminosae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[1]
Botanic
[1][2]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Green manure, Ground cover, Earth stabiliser, Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
12
Heat Zone
12
Water
low
Sun
indirect sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
2 x
Fertility
?
Pollinators
?
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

"image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Centrosema virginianum 1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.




References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
  2. ? Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (32202/01/01)



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Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Centrosema_virginianum&oldid=82046"
Facts about "Centrosema virginianum"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyLeguminosae +
Belongs to genusCentrosema +
Functions asGreen manure +, Ground cover +, Earth stabiliser + and Nitrogen fixer +
Has common nameButterfly Pea +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeBee +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone6 +
Has imageCentrosema virginianum 1.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height2 +
Has primary imageCentrosema virginianum 1.jpg +
Has search namecentrosema virginianum + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameCentrosema virginianum +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +