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Vigna parkeri

Authority Baker Family Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae Synonyms Dolichos maraguënsis (Taub.), Vigna gracilis auct., non (Guill. and Perr) Hook., Vigna maraguënsis (Taub.) Harms. Common names creeping vigna Editor Ecocrop code 10827

Notes
DESCRIPTION: Herbaceous legume, with climbing and prostrate stems, forming dense mats. Leaves trifoliolate, with leaflets round, 1-9 cm long and 1-5.5 cm wide. Inflorescences are axillary racemes, with 2-5 (-10) yellow, white or blue flowers. Pods (9-) 13-20 (-30) mm long and 4.5-5.5 mm wide. USE: It is a useful legume in intensively grazed pastures, and forms a good ground cover in lightly shaded areas. KILLING T: The top is killed by frost but the plant can regenerate from the root-stock. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial, growing in the summer. COMMON NAMES: Creeping vigna. FURTHER INF: It is native of tropical Central and East Africa form from equator to 40°S-N and from sea level to 2700 m. Also suitable of subtropical lowland areas. Occurs in grasslands, grasslands with scattered trees, thickets, forests and sometimes as a weed of cultivation. Often forms a natural mixture with grasses such as kikuyu, producing excellent grazing. It can be found in areas with from 1000 mm to 3000 mm annual rainfall and with average annual temperatures between 17-21°C. It occurs on soils with textures ranging from sands to medium clays with pH from 4-7. These soils are often infertile and have at least moderate levels of soluble aluminium. It requires good soil moisture for performance, but can survive up to a few months of dry conditions. It tolerates waterlogged soils, but is intolerant of flooding. DM production about 1-4 t/ha/year.
Sources
Grassland Index Skerman P 1988 pp 471-475 [TEMP, KTMP, RAIN, TEXT, DRA, PH, FER] Miller C 1990 pp 38 Mannetje L 1992 pp 232-234 [RAIN, KTMP, FER, PH] Tropical forages 2005