Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

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Photo: Mark Hyde
Reps Theatre carpark

Photo: Sune Holt
Munavalate, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

Photo: Bart Wursten
Between Malangalanga and Area 3, Lilongwe

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Pigeon pea (English)
Frequency:	A rare escape from cultivation
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Shrub 1.5-3 m. Stems prominently ribbed. Leaflets green above, silvery grey beneath, acute with small yellow glands and prominent venation beneath. Inflorescence brownish glandular-hairy. Standard bright yellow. Pods shiny, glandular-hairy, constricted between the seeds and slightly inflated.
Type location:	Sri Lanka
Notes:	Commonly seen as a planted or cultivated shrub but rarely found as a naturalised escape.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In waste places and coastal open woodland.
Altitude range: (metres)	0 - 1450 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics for food and widely naturalised.
National distribution:	N,Z,T,GI,M
Growth form(s):	Shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Maruca vitrata (Larval foodplant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Friday 17 October 2014
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 287. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 217. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 247. Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 163 - 165. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 46. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 57.

Other sources of information about Cajanus cajan:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Cajanus cajan
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Cajanus cajan
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Cajanus cajan
Flora of Zambia: Cajanus cajan
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Cajanus cajan
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cajanus cajan
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Cajanus cajan

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cajanus cajan
African Plant Database: Cajanus cajan
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cajanus cajan
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cajanus cajan
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cajanus cajan
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cajanus cajan
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cajanus cajan
JSTOR Plant Science: Cajanus cajan
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cajanus cajan
Plants of the World Online: Cajanus cajan
Tropicos: Cajanus cajan
Wikipedia: Cajanus cajan