Cowpea

Climbing, prostrate or erect herbs or subshrubs. Stipules truncate, 2-lobed or spurred at the base, sometimes ± peltate; stipels ± persistent, rarely 0. Leaves pinnately (rarely digitately) 3-foliolate or 1-foliolate. Inflorescences axillary. Calyx 5-lobed, 2-lipped, the lower lip 3-lobed. Corolla (in ours) usually blue or purple, sometimes yellow. Style thin below, thickened and usually curved above and usually also hairy above on the inner face. Pods linear, usually terete and not flattened.