Butterfly Pea

Centrosema, the butterfly peas,^[1] is a genus of (mainly tropical) American vines in the legume family (Fabaceae). Species include:

• Centrosema angustifolium Benth.
• Centrosema arenarium Benth.
• Centrosema brasilianum (L.) Benth.
• Centrosema dasyanthum Benth.
• Centrosema macranthum Hoehne
• Centrosema macrocarpum
• Centrosema plumerii (Turp. ex Pres.) Benth.
• Centrosema pubescens Benth.
• Centrosema sagittatum (Willd.) Brad.
• Centrosema vexillatum Benth.
• Centrosema virginianum

Lepidopteran caterpillars that feed on butterfly peas include the two-barred flasher (Astraptes fulgerator), occasionally recorded on C. macrocarpum and C. plumieri at least.^[2]

Another plant referred to as butterfly pea from the same subtribe Clitoriinae is the related Clitoria ternatea. 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.

See also

• Clitoria

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. doi:10.1017/S147720000500191X 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 101(41): 14812–14817. doi:10.1073/pnas.0406166101 PDF fulltext Supporting Appendices
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2007): USDA Plants Profile: Centrosema. Retrieved 2007-DEC-17.

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