Cow Pea

The phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urban) is an erect branching legume up to 0.6-1 m high. It is usually annual but it is occasionally biennal or a short-lived perennial. In shaded conditions, phasey bean may trail or twin, with vines reaching 1.2 m long. With maturity, the stems become woody at their base. Phasey bean leaves are trifoliate with 3-8 cm long and 1-3.5 cm broad leaflets. The inflorescences are 15-25 cm (-50 cm) long racemes borne on 30 cm long peduncles, and bear red to red-purple (occasionally white or pink) papillionate flowers, 13-15 mm in diameter. The fruits are pubescent, linear, dehiscent pods, 5.5-12 cm long and 2.5-3 cm wide, and contain 20-30 oblong brown seeds that drop easily