Lobiya / Cow Pea
Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata
Also known as Asparagus Bean, Barbati, Black Eye Pea, Blue Goose Southern Pea, Common Cowpea, Southern Pea
- Habit
- Climber
- Found in India
- Maharashtra
- Flowering
- Throughout the year
Plant Details
Leaf characters
- Leaf type
- Trifoliate (three leaflets)recorded
- Leaf surface
- Glabrous (smooth, hairless)recorded
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Characters marked “recorded” are for Lobiya itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- PurplerecordedPurple or violet
- Fruit type
- LegumerecordedA dry pod that splits open along two seams (typical of the pea/bean family).“The black-eyed pea or black-eyed bean is a legume grown around the world for its medium-sized, edible bean.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Raceme
- Fruit
- Legume
Characters marked “recorded” are for Lobiya itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Hindi
- लोबिया Lobiya,लोबिया lobiya
- Nepali
- बोडी Boodee, बोडी
- Bengali
- Ghangra, বিউলির ডাল
- Tamil
- Kaattu ulundu, Karamani, காராமணி
- Telugu
- Alasandalu, Kaaraamanulu, అలసంద
- Kannada
- Alasabde, Alasundi
- Malayalam
- വൻപയർ
- Marathi
- Alasunda, चवळी Chavali
Lobiya in India
Cowpea, known as लोबिया Lobiya (Hindi), Kaattu ulundu (Tamil), Alasandalu (Telugu), Alasabde (Kannada), വൻപയർ (Malayalam), Alasunda (Marathi), is grown both as a dry pulse and a fresh vegetable bean. Vigna unguiculata is cultivated across Maharashtra, tolerating heat and poor soil well.
Uses
The dried seeds are cooked as a pulse (lobia curry), while the young pods of long-podded varieties are cooked fresh as a vegetable; the plant is also grown as fodder and a soil-improving cover crop.
How to Identify Lobiya
A trailing to semi-erect annual herb with trifoliate leaves. Flowers are pale yellow to violet, followed by long, slender pods that can reach considerable length in some varieties, ripening from green to yellow, brown or purplish depending on type.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Cow pea called in different Indian languages?
- लोबिया Lobiya (Hindi); Kaattu ulundu (Tamil); Alasandalu (Telugu); Alasabde (Kannada); വൻപയർ (Malayalam); Alasunda (Marathi); Ghangra (Bengali).
- Is lobia the same as black-eyed pea?
- Yes — black-eyed pea is one common variety of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), named for the dark spot on its pale seed.
- Is lobia a bean or a pea?
- Botanically it's neither true bean (Phaseolus) nor true pea (Pisum) — cowpea belongs to its own genus, Vigna, though it's used and cooked much like other pulses.
Fabaceae
Legume/Bean family
Lobiya belongs to the Fabaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Fabaceae
View all Fabaceae →Sources: GBIF — Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)