''Centrosema'', the butterfly peas, is a genus of (mainly tropical) American

vine A vine ( Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners thems ...

s in the legume

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

( Fabaceae).

Species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

include: * '' Centrosema angustifolium'' Benth. * '' Centrosema arenarium'' Benth. * '' Centrosema brasilianum'' (L.) Benth. * '' Centrosema dasyanthum'' Benth. * ''

Centrosema macranthum ''Centrosema'', the butterfly peas, is a genus of (mainly tropical) American vines in the legume family ( Fabaceae). Species include: * '' Centrosema angustifolium'' Benth. * '' Centrosema arenarium'' Benth. * '' Centrosema brasilianum'' (L.) B ...

'' Hoehne * '' Centrosema macrocarpum'' * '' Centrosema plumerii'' (Turp. ex Pres.) Benth. * ''

Centrosema pubescens ''Centrosema pubescens'', common name centro or butterfly pea, is a legume in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, and tribe Phaseolae. It is native to Central and South America and cultivated in other tropical areas as a forage for liv ...

'' Benth. * '' Centrosema sagittatum'' (Willd.) Brad. * ''

Centrosema vexillatum ''Centrosema'', the butterfly peas, is a genus of (mainly tropical) American vines in the legume family ( Fabaceae). Species include: * '' Centrosema angustifolium'' Benth. * '' Centrosema arenarium'' Benth. * '' Centrosema brasilianum'' (L.) B ...

'' Benth. * ''

Centrosema virginianum ''Centrosema virginianum'' is known by the common names of Spurred Butterfly Pea, wild blue vine, blue bell, and wild pea. ''C. virginianum'' is a member of the family Fabaceae, it is identified by its trailing and twining vine and showy fl ...

'' Lepidopteran

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larva, larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterfly, butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawfly ...

s that feed on butterfly peas include the

two-barred flasher ''Astraptes fulgerator'', the two-barred flasher, is a spread-wing skipper butterfly in the genus ''Astraptes'' which may constitute a possible cryptic species complex. It ranges all over the Americas, from the southern United States to north ...

(''Astraptes fulgerator''), occasionally recorded on '' C. macrocarpum'' and '' C. plumieri'' at least.Hébert ''et al.'' (2004), Brower ''et al.'' (2006) Another plant referred to as butterfly pea from the same subtribe ''Clitoriinae'' is the related

Clitoria ternatea ''Clitoria ternatea'', commonly known as Asian pigeonwings, bluebellvine, blue pea, butterfly pea, cordofan pea or Darwin pea is a plant species belonging to the family Fabaceae, endemic and native to the Indonesian island of Ternate. In India, ...

. However it doesn't belong to the genus Centrosema. In Jamaica, it is known as Fee Fee and is usually seen at Christmas time. The flower is able to make a whistling sound hence children usually find it useful as a toy.

Footnotes

References

* Brower, Andrew V.Z. (2006): Problems with DNA barcodes for species delimitation: ‘ten species’ of ''Astraptes fulgerator'' reassessed (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). ''Systematics and Biodiversity'' 4(2): 127–132. PDF fulltext
* Hébert, Paul D.N.; Penton, Erin H.; Burns, John M.; Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie (2004): Ten species in one: DNA barcoding reveals cryptic species in the semitropical skipper butterfly ''Astraptes fulgerator''. ''

PNAS ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America'' (often abbreviated ''PNAS'' or ''PNAS USA'') is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journal. It is the official journal of the National Academy of Scien ...

'' 101(41): 14812–14817.
PDF fulltextSupporting Appendices
*

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of com ...

(USDA) (2007)
USDA Plants Profile: ''Centrosema''
Retrieved 2007-DEC-17. Phaseoleae Fabaceae genera {{Phaseoleae-stub

See also

Footnotes

References