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Clitoria ternatea Fantz var. pleniflora
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Double Butterfly Pea, Double Blue Pea Vine, Double Asian Pigeonwings |
Name
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| Infraspecific Epithet | |
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Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Climber, Vine & Liana, Shrub (Herbaceous, Woody) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular, Leggy |
| Maximum Height | 2 m to 5 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A climbing legume with slender and twinning stems. . |
| Foliage | Leaves are compound pinnate, alternately arranged along the stem, with 5 - 7 elliptic to ovate leaflets, measuring 2.5 - 5 cm long and 1.5 - 3.5 cm wide. Each leaflet is thinly papery. |
| Flowers | Flowers are large, deep blue, pea-shaped. Flowers are located on leaf axils. |
| Fruits | Fruits are Fruits are flat dehiscent pods. brown, linear to oblong. Fruit splits open to release 6 - 10 black, oblong seeds. |
| Habitat | Widely distributed throughout the tropics such as disturbed areas, riverine vegetation and grasslands. |
| Cultivation | It is easily grown by seeds. Let pods dry on plant, before collecting seeds for sowing. Fast-growing, but may be attacked by aphids, resulting in plant defoliation. Plant prefers full sun but can tolerate slight semi-shade. |
| Etymology | The genus Clitoria means clitoris, which refers to the flower shape. The specific epithet ternatea means from Ternate, Maluku Islands, Indonesia. Variety pleniflora means multi-petals, in reference to the flowers. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Flowers) [Others]: Flowers are used as dye for colouring food such as Peranakan kueh and nasi kerabu. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | Grown on trellis for attractive purplish-blue flowers with multiple petals. |
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Landscape Uses | General, Vertical Greenery / Green Wall, Small Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
| SGMP Treatment |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Caterpillar Food Plant |
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence) |
