Cowpea: scientific and common names

Abstract

The literature on the scientific nomenclatura of the several species of Vigna genus, widely cultivated in Africa, Asia and America, was reviewed, as well as the common names used in Brazil. The Vigna genus belongs to the Rosales order, Leguminosae family, and Papilionoideae subfamily. There are four species groups in this genus largely distributed throughout the world, including the group classified as Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi as the most important agriculturally. There are many classifications of the forms of this group, according to the existing variations, some being considered as botanical varieties by some authors and subspecies by others. At present time, the most accepted classification is that one which recognizes this group as Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. sp. and identified the following subspecies: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subsp. unguiculata; Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc; Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subsp. cylindrica (L.) van Eseltine; Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subsp. dekindtiana (Harms.) Verdc.; and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Subsp.mensensis (Schweinf.) Verdc. In Brazil, the most popular names used by farmers are "feijão-macássar" and "feijão-de-corda".