Vigna unguiculata
- noun
- Specialized
:
Vigna unguiculata
- Vigna unguiculata is a valuable crop in African and Asian agriculture, providing protein-rich food and animal fodder.
Examples
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Farmers often plant Vigna unguiculata as a cover crop to enrich soil fertility between harvests.
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The leaves and pods of Vigna unguiculata are used for both human consumption and livestock feed.
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Farmers often grow Vigna unguiculata in tropical climates.
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The Vigna unguiculata plant thrives in warm soil.
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Vigna unguiculata is often cultivated for its nutritious seeds, which are a staple food in many regions.
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In addition to its seeds, Vigna unguiculata is also grown to improve soil health through nitrogen fixation.
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Many farmers incorporate Vigna unguiculata into their crop rotation for its benefits as a green manure.
Synonyms
8
3.4
A small pale bean with a black spot that people eat in the American South
1
7.5
A plant grown in warm places for its seeds or animal feed
A climbing plant grown for its edible beans, animal food, and to improve soil
A spreading annual plant that farmers grow for edible beans and animal feed
Surface Forms
Morphology
Vigna + unguiculata
This is a Linnaean binomial (scientific name) composed of Latin terms functioning as a taxonomic label rather than a compositional English phrase. A B1 learner who knows the listed constituents (one being an unfamiliar Latin adjective) would not be able to derive the plant meaning from them, so the phrase behaves as a fixed proper name with specialized, non-transparent meaning.
Etymology
Vigna unguiculata comes from plant naming: Vigna is the genus name and unguiculata means 'small claw', referring to a little claw-shaped part of the flower. The plant is often called the 'cowpea' because farmers feed it to cows and people, so the name points to this pea-like crop grown for food and animal fodder.