Clitoria ternatea
Clitoria ternatea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Cicereae Genus: Clitoria Species: C. ternatea
Binomial name
Clitoria ternatea L.

Flower at Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Clitoria ternatea is a vine native to tropical and equatorial Asia, but has been introduced to Africa, Australia and the New World. It grows well in moist neutral soil and requires little care. It is grown as an ornamental plant and as a revegetation species (e.g., in coal mines in Australia). It fixes nitrogen and is therefore also used . in southeast asia the flowers are use to colour food. In Malay cooking, an aqueous extract is used to colour glutinous rice for kuih tekan (also known as pulut seri kaya) and in nonya chang. In Thailand, a syrupy blue drink is made called nam dok anchan น้ำดอกอัญขัญ. Some varietes also have white flowers.

Common names

• Aparajita (Hindi)
• Gokarna (Marathi)
• Butterfly pea (English)
• Blue pea vine (English)
• Bunga telang (Malay)
• Dok anchan ดอกอัญขัญ (Thai)
• Pigeon wings (English)
• nagar hedi (kannada)

References

• "Plant of the Week—Clitoria ternatea". Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
• "Clitoria ternatea". Tropical Forages. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.

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