what is cowpea

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus Vigna. It is an important crop in arid, semidesert regions where not many other crops will grow, as it can thrive in poor dry conditions and soils up to 85% sand. Cowpeas were domesticated in Africa and are one of the oldest crops to be farmed. A second domestication event probably occurred in Asia, before they spread into Europe and the Americas. Cowpeas can be erect, semierect (trailing), or climbing, and there is a high level of morphological diversity within the species. The crop is mainly grown for its seeds, which are high in protein, although the leaves and immature seed pods can also be consumed. Cowpeas are also extensively grown as a hay crop and as a green manure or cover crop. The plant is deep-rooted, vigorous in growth, and reliable in production, and is both drought-tolerant and adapted to poor soils. Cowpeas are an introduced species in the United States, where they are known as black-eyed peas, southern peas, and crowder peas.