Centrosema pubescens – Centro, Butterfly Pea

Description

Centrosema pubescens, The butterfly pea, also known as Centro is part of the genus Centrosema belonging to the family of leguminous dicot plants. Centro grows roughly 40–45 cm in height and is typically recognized for its large lilac colored flowers covered in violet veins. This plant is also very leafy and hairy, especially on its neither surface. One of the most important parts of this plant is its seeds, which are located in a flat, long, dark brown pod containing up to 20 seeds. These seeds are round and dark brown in color when ripe. It is a climbing or prostrate herb, often forming tangled mats. Stems are slender and hairy. Leaves are trifoliate with leaflet oblong to ovate, 3-9 x 1.5-5 cm. The compact inflorescences are several-flowered, the standard-petal being blue to purple with darker veins and yellow-tinged, up to 4 x 3 cm, velvety outside, and with a spur scarcely 1 mm long. The fruits, up to 17 cm long and 7 mm broad, are ribbed near the sutures, with numerous seeds up to 5 x 3 x 2 mm and red-brown with black streaks. It is native to South and Central America where up to 50 of its varied natural species can be found.