I encountered them during my ethnobotanical survey in Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Thanks in advance.
The white beans are undoubtedly cowpea, Vigna unguiculata likely subsp. unguiculata, although I cannot be certain of the subspecies from the seeds alone. West africa boasts a huge diversity of cowpea cultivars. See the following publication:
OGUNKANMI, L. A., TAIWO, A., MOGAJI, O. L., AWOBODEDE, A., EZIASHI, E. E. & OGUNDIPE, O. T. (2005/2006) Assessment of genetic diversity among cultivated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) cultivars from a range of localities across West Africa using agronomic traits. Journal Sci. Res. Dev., , 10, 111-118.
For these photos, you can not see very well. But I think it might be:
1st picture - Specie: Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth - Common name: pigeon pea;
2st picture - Specie: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. – Common name: Cowpea;
3st picture - Specie: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. – Common name: Cowpea.
Also send some pictures to help identify.
@ Egan and @ Rocha, I am very thankful for your answers. They are indeed very helpful.
Dr. James Asibuo
Lead Scientist, National Bean Program
Crops Researchh Institute – CRI,
Ghana.
Email:[email protected]
He probably does other legumes too. Could know the names. May know someone who can comment on varieties.
@ Raaz, thank you very much for the contact details.
I have agreed with answers provided by Egan and Rocha.
I agree with Mrs. Rocha, pigeonpea and 2 x cowpea.
I have to rectify the authority of pigeonpea: Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.: Indeed the publication by Huth 1893 predates the one by Millspaugh 1900, but Huth did not intend to publish the combination as such, he just used it in a short list of examples discussing tautonyms, that are not allowed in botanical nomenclature. See:
VAN DER MAESEN L.J.G. 1986. Cajanus DC. and Atylosia W. & A. (Leguminosae). Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 85–4. Pp. 225.
@Van der Maesen, thanks very much for the correction regarding the authority of the Cajanus spp and the additional information link provided.
Dear John-Baptist Naah,
If you are looking for a quick fix, you can compare the seeds with pictures/images of legume seeds by browsing/googling picture or image, legume seeds, cowpea seeds, canavalia seeds, pigeon pea seeds. For a strict taxonomic determination, however, you will need to have the whole specimen of the plant with the leaves, flowers and pods. It is possible you are having Vigna unguiculata, Canavalia ensiformis (common jack bean), Cajanus cajan. But, additional material is necessary to be sure of the suggestions you are getting based on the seeds alone.
@Asfaw, thanks for your feedback. Yes, I first of all did a lot of googling about these beans varieties but was not still certain of them, which prompted me to ask this question in this platform for expert views and confirmations.
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