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Butterfly pea

Clitoria ternatea

Basic Details

Description

Floral Formula

Features

Translations

Basic Details

NameButterfly pea

DescriptionStriking tropical vine featuring vivid sky-blue pea-shaped flowers with distinctive white or yellow markings at the center. The flowers yield a natural blue dye used in teas and foods that dramatically changes to purple or pink when acidic ingredients like lemon are added. Valued in traditional medicine, as natural food coloring, and for its nitrogen-fixing properties that enrich soil.

FamilyFabaceae

GenusClitoria

TribePhaseoleae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr % ⚥ K(5) C5 A(9)+1 G1

Ebracteate (no bracts), bilaterally symmetrical (zygomorphic), bisexual, 5 fused sepals forming calyx tube, 5 free petals (1 standard, 2 wings, 2 keel petals fused), 10 stamens with 9 fused in tube and 1 free (diadelphous), 1 free carpel with superior ovary

Features

Name 'Clitoria' derives from the flower's resemblance to female anatomy. 'Butterfly Pea' refers to wing-like petals resembling a butterfly. 'Aparajita' means 'unconquered' in Sanskrit, symbolizing invincibility in Hindu tradition
Solitary pea-like flowers 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) long with five petals in characteristic legume arrangement. Vivid deep blue is most common, also white, pink, and double-flowered cultivars. Flowers contain anthocyanins that create pH-sensitive color changes
Perennial climbing vine that blooms year-round in tropical climates, summer through fall (June-October) in temperate zones. Twining vine requires support structure. Produces flat seed pods 2-3 inches long containing 6-10 edible seeds
Climbs 6-15 feet (2-4.5 m) with support, spreading 3-6 feet (90-180 cm). Lifespan of 2-3 years as perennial in tropics, grown as annual in cooler climates. Propagated from scarified seeds (germinate in 6-21 days) or semi-hardwood cuttings
Native to tropical equatorial Asia including Indonesia (possibly Ternate island), Thailand, Vietnam, and India. Now naturalized throughout tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia, Americas, and Pacific islands
Thrives in full sun requiring 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Prefers warm temperatures (70-85°F/21-29°C) and consistently moist, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Frost sensitive
Flowers produce natural blue dye for beverages, desserts, and rice dishes. Used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for cognitive enhancement and stress relief. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Legume that fixes nitrogen, improving soil fertility

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificClitoria ternatea

English (Alternate)Aparajita, Clitoria ternatea, Asian pigeonwings, bluebellvine, Blue pea, Butterfly pea, Cordofan pea, Darwin pea

Hindiअपराजिता (Aparajita), गोकर्णी (Gokarni)

Tamilசங்குப் பூ (Sangu Poo), நீலக்காக்கணம் (Nilakkakkanam), கருவிளை (Karuvilai)

Teluguశంఖపుష్పం (Shankhapushpam), గెంటన (Gentana), శంఖుపూల మొక్క (Shanku poola mokka)

Malayalamശംഖുപുഷ്പം (Shankupushpam), ശംഖുപുഷ്പം (Sankupushpam), അപരാജിത (Aparajita)

Kannadaಶಂಖಪುಷ್ಪ (Shankhupushpa), ಗಿರಿಕರ್ಣಿಕೆ (Girikarnike ), ಸುತ್ತುಗ (Suttuga )

Sanskritअपराजिता(Aparajita ), विष्णुक्रान्त (Vishnukranta), गिरिकर्णिका (Girikarnika)

Bengaliঅপরাজিতা (Aprajita), অপরাজিতা ফুল (Oporajita ful)

Frenchpois bleu, pois papillon, fleurs de Pois Papillon

RussianМотыльковый горошек (Motyl'kovyy goroshek), Клитория тернатейская (Klitoriya ternateyskaya), Голубые крылышки (Golubyye krylyshki)

SpanishClitoria azul, Campanilla, Azulejo, Papito, Zapatito de la reina, Conchita azul, Bejuco de conchitas

GermanBlaue Klitorie

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula

% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G₂

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.