Vigna subterranea

The underground fruits of Bambara groundnut ( Vigna subterranea )

The Bambara groundnut ( Vigna subterranea ) is a plant that to the subfamily of Fabaceae ( Faboideae ) belongs within the legume family ( Fabaceae or Leguminosae). This crop is closely related to a number of other " beans " called crops. It is called in the German language also Erderbse.

She is from West Africa, and is now cultivated throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and Central and South America. It is a definite "dry plant".

Description

The Bambara groundnut is a flat creeping herbaceous plant.

It constitutes about 4 cm long pulses, with one to two approximately 1 cm large seeds of different color ( bright, red, black, mottled ). The sleeves grow as well as in peanut, under the ground. This is an adaptation to bushfire that prevents the burning of the seeds.

Use

One can use the young pods or the dried seeds. The latter are either soaked and cooked, or ground into flour.

System

Vigna subterranea belongs to the section Vigna in Vigna subgenus within the genus Vigna. Synonyms for Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. are: Glycine subterranea L. ( basionym ), Voandzeia subterranea (L.) Thouars ex DC.