From the archive record
Zombie pea or Vigna vexillata is a genus of plant that includes a number of cultivated legumes. It is in the family Fabaceae. It is an annual with good seedling vigour and good wet-season growth, and is effective in weed suppression. The seed shatters and it is not a good stand over feed for the dry season. It is frost and fire-susceptible. . It grows wild in the Himalayas and in the foothills of India. The tubers are soft, easy to peel, and possess a creamy, white, tasty interior. They are eaten boiled or raw. Protein content of the tubers is near the 15% level, which is high compared to the 1-7% for potatoes and yams. Besides the Western Ghats, it is common in the central Sudan, Zaire, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, Republic of Cameroon, Angola, Ethiopia, K