Asian pigeonwings

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Asian Pigeonwings
• Darwin-pea
• blue-pea
• bluebellvine
• butterfly-pea
• cordofan-pea
• Blue Pea
• Butterfly Pea
• Darwin pea
• cordofan pea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nauchea ternatea
• Ternatea vulgaris
• Pterocarpus javanicus
• Deguelia javanica
• Ternatea indica
• Clitoria ternatea f. flaviflora
• Clitoria ternatea var. alba
• Clitoria ternatea var. angustifolia
• Derris javanica
• Wisteria dubia
• Clitoria parviflora
• Clitoria ternatensium
• Clitoria zanzibarensis
• Clitoria albiflora
• Lathyrus spectabilis
• Nauchea bracteata
• Clitoria ternatea var. pilosula
• Clitoria tanganicensis
• Clitoria ternatea var. albiflora
• Clitoria ternatea f. albiflora
• Clitoria ternatea f. fasciculata
• Clitoria ternatea f. leucopetala
• Clitoria ternatea var. major
• Clitoria ternatea var. pleniflora
• Clitoria ternatea f. subpolyadelpha
• Clitoria pilosula
• Clitoria philippensis
• Clitoria mearnsii
• Clitoria bracteata
• Clitoria ternatea var. bracteata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is further categorized into the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Clitoria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, its presence can be documented within the country of Egypt. The species is also found throughout Macaronesia, specifically inhabiting the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. Moving toward West Tropical Africa, its distribution extends into Benin. Finally, the plant can also be located within the borders of Burkina Faso.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Clitoria ternatea is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across diverse environmental settings and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives in a wide range of habitats, ranging from anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) to natural biomes such as the Caatinga (strictu sensu), the Cerrado (lato sensu), and Terra Firme forests. This versatility allows the species to colonize both disturbed landscapes and more stable forest ecosystems. In terms of vertical distribution, the plant occupies a significant elevational gradient, found at altitudes starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Terra Firme

Genetics

The genetics of Clitoria ternatea are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations and reproductive complexities. The species exhibits varying chromosome numbers, with recorded values of 14 and 16, reflecting a degree of cytological variability within the species. Despite this variation in number, the plant typically maintains a diploid ploidy level, denoted as 2, which serves as the foundational genomic state for its cellular structure and inheritance patterns. These genetic parameters play a critical role in the plant's evolutionary stability and its ability to maintain diverse phenotypic traits.

Chromosome number :

14, 16

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Clitoria ternatea is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte classifications, which relates to its growth habit and the positioning of its buds. The plant exhibits deciduousness, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal biological rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Clitoria ternatea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, specifically functioning as an obligatory climbing vine. This plant exhibits a terrestrial lifestyle, existing as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. As a liana-like vine, it demonstrates significant vertical variability in plant height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.44 m to a maximum of 5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 2.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

0.44 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Clitoria ternatea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and energy production efficiency. The plant exhibits specialized nitrogen-fixing capabilities, utilizing a symbiotic relationship to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, thereby enhancing its nutritional autonomy. In terms of leaf morphology and structure, the foliage is non-succulent, maintaining a standard leaf tissue density rather than water-storing adaptations. The leaves vary in dimension, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 6.7 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 4 cm.

Leaf length max:

6.7 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Clitoria ternatea is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily mediated by insects, which facilitates the fertilization process. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, highlighting a reliance on external pollinators. The plant produces striking blue flowers arranged in inflorescences that can range in length from 5 m to 17 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscence-type fruits in the form of pods. These pods vary in size, with a length ranging from 6 cm to a maximum of 12 cm and a width between 0.7 cm and 1.2 cm. Each fruit contains a relatively small number of seeds, typically between 1 and 10. The seeds themselves exhibit a minimum length of 4 mm and a maximum of 8 mm, a minimum width of 3 mm, and a maximum width of 5 mm, resulting in a consistent seed volume of 53 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds range from a minimum of 0.04034 g to a maximum of 0.08959 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.05059875 g. Dispersal of the seeds is categorized as anthropochorous, indicating a role for human activity in their movement.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

blue

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit length min:

6 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Inflorescence length max:

17 m

Inflorescence length min:

5 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

8 mm

Seed length min:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.08959 g

Seed mass mean:

0.05059875 g

Seed mass min:

0.04034 g

Seed volume max:

53 mm³

Seed width max:

5 mm

Seed width min:

3 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Clitoria ternatea has 4 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, seed, root.

Flower

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of obesity
3. The Journal of biological chemistry
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. Journal of natural medicines

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Ancient science of life

Seed

1. FEBS letters
2. The Journal of biological chemistry

Root

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Chemicals

Clitoria ternatea has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, (z)-9,17-octadecadienal, ANTHOCYANIN, Clitorin, Delphinidin.

Anthocyanins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in plant science

(z)-9,17-octadecadienal

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Biotechnology for biofuels

Clitorin

1. Structural chemistry

Delphinidin

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Lupeol

1. Journal of chromatographic science

RUTIN

1. Food chemistry

SINAPIC ACID

1. Food chemistry

STIGMASTEROL

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Activities

Clitoria ternatea has 81 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial, Neuroprotective, Abortifacient.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Ancient science of life

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of natural medicines

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ayu

Neuroprotective

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Cureus

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Ayu

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Clitoria ternatea has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes mellitus, Gram-negative bacteria, analgesic, antidepressant.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations