Cowpea facts for kids

The Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is one of several species of the widely grown genus Vigna. The black-eyed pea is an example.

Images for kids

Black-eyed peas, a common name for a cowpea cultivar, are named due to the presence of a distinctive black spot on their hilum.
Sea Island red pea a cultivar of cowpea grown by the Gullah people on the Sea islands.
A selection of different cowpea cultivars displayed in a wooden bowl.
The cowpea was believed to have originated in West Africa.
A cowpea plant with some pods ready for harvest
Seeds from the wild-type cowpea are much smaller than the cultivated varieties
Larva from the Maruca vitrata, commonly called the maruca pod borer, is one of the most damaging insect pests to the cowpea plant.
Cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) infests stored cowpea seeds, resulting in major postharvest losses.
Hoppin' John is a common meal in the rural Southern United States.