More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Flowers of Zihuatanejo
Blue Pea
Clitoria ternatea
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Legumes, Milkworts, and Allies (Order Fabales)
-Legumes (Family Fabaceae)
-Subfamily Faboideae
-Tribe Phaseoleae
-Subtribe Clitoriinae
-Genus Clitoria
-Blue Pea (Clitoria ternatea)
Clitoria ternatea is a deciduous climbing plant that grows to 3 metres (9 feet). The flowers are blue with in an oval shape and can resemble the female reproductive organ in humans. Fruit pods appear six-eight weeks after flowering and are roughly 7 cm long (3 inches) and contain 6-10 seeds each. Seeds are edible when freshly harvested.
Description
• Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as butterfly pea, blue pea, or Asian pigeonwings, is a perennial climbing vine in the legume family (Fabaceae). It has pinnate leaves with five to seven oval leaflets and striking pea-shaped flowers, usually vivid blue with a pale yellow or white centre, though white-flowered varieties also occur. Its flowers are followed by long, flattened seed pods. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental and is also used as a food colouring and traditional herbal ingredient.
Range
• Clitoria ternatea is native to tropical equatorial Asia and has been widely introduced and naturalised throughout tropical regions worldwide, including parts of the Americas. It is cultivated and established in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• It grows in warm, sunny to partly shaded habitats, including gardens, roadsides, field margins, scrub, and disturbed ground. It favours well-drained soils and can tolerate seasonal dry periods once established. As a climbing vine, it often grows over grasses, shrubs, fences, and other supports.