Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as butterfly pea, is a perennial, herbaceous climbing vine in the Fabaceae family. It features slender, weak, twining stems with short, soft hairs and a branched taproot system bearing nitrogen-fixing nodules. The leaves are alternately arranged, pinnately compound with 5–7 elliptic or ovate leaflets, each leaflet measuring 2.5–5 cm long and 1.5–3.5 cm wide, and are thinly papery or membranous in texture.
The plant is best known for its striking, solitary, axillary flowers, most often a vivid deep blue with light yellow markings, though white and pink varieties also exist. The flowers are zygomorphic and papilionaceous, about 4 cm long and 3 cm wide, with five petals arranged in a typical pea-flower structure. The fruit is a flat, linear pod (legume) 5–7 cm long, containing 6–10 seeds that are edible when tender.
Habitat
Clitoria ternatea is native to Africa and probably India, but is now pantropical, naturalized throughout the humid and sub-humid lowlands of Asia, Australia, the Americas, and many Pacific islands. It thrives in open grasslands, woodland edges, bushlands, riverbanks, disturbed forests, and along roadsides, favoring areas with abundant sunlight and moist, well-drained soils.
Planting and Care
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Light: Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
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Soil: Grows best in moist, neutral, well-drained soils; adaptable to a range of soil types due to its nitrogen-fixing ability.
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Watering: Requires regular watering during establishment; moderately drought-tolerant once mature.
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Support: Needs a trellis or support for climbing growth.
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Propagation: Easily propagated by seeds; soak seeds in water overnight before sowing for better germination.
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Maintenance: Minimal care required; prune to manage size and encourage bushier growth.
Additional Information
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Ornamental Use: Widely grown for its showy flowers in gardens, landscapes, and as a natural dye source.
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Soil Improvement: As a legume, it enriches soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen.
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Medicinal Properties: Used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a memory enhancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects.
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Health Benefits: Shown to support brain health, lower blood pressure, improve skin and hair health, aid digestion, and help regulate blood sugar levels.
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Culinary Use: Blue flowers are used to color food and beverages, especially in Southeast Asian cuisine.
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Cultural Significance: Roots and flowers are used in rituals and traditional medicine in various cultures.
