Clitoria Ternatea L. - National Parks Board

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Clitoria ternatea L.

Family Name:	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Common Name:	Butterfly Pea, Blue Pea, Blue Vine, Pigeon Wings, Mussel Shell Creeper, Bunga Telang, 蝶豆, 蝴蝶花豆

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Bee-Attracting Plant

Herb or Spice

Ornamental Flowers

Climber

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• Name
• Classifications and Characteristics
• Biogeography
• Description and Ethnobotany
• Landscaping Features
• Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
• Plant Care and Propagation
• Foliar
• Non - Foliar and Storage
• Floral (Angiosperm)
• Fruit, Seed and Spore
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Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Climber
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Pantropical
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Disturbed Area / Open Ground)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a slender climbing legume with short, soft hairs on the stem. It has deep roots and ornamental flowers.
Foliage	Its stalked, alternately-arranged leaves are pinnate with 5-7 elliptic or ovate leaflets, 2.5-5 cm long. Each leaflet is thinly papery or membranous, and measuring 2.5-5 cm long and 1.5-3.5 cm wide.
Flowers	Its solitary flowers bloom in colors ranging from white to pink, to light or dark blue, funnel-shaped, 4 cm by 3 cm, single or paired, standard obovate, notched or rounded at apex, blue with yellow base, or entirely white.

Fruit	Its fruits are linear-oblong pods, 5-11 cm long and 0.7-1 cm wide, with a long pointed tip.
Habitat	It is widely cultivated in gardens and sometimes seen growing wild in disturbed, open spaces.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed. The plant prefers full sunlight to semi-shade, and is adapted to a wide range of soil conditions, from sands to heavy clays with moderate fertility. Roots are deep rooted which fix nitrogen, thus, improving the quality of the soil.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible FlowersFood (Herb or Spice): The flowers are used to extract a blue, edible dye that is used in making traditional Malay pastries.Medicinal: Traditionally, roots are used to treat abdominal swelling, sore throats and mucus disorders. Juice from the roots is mixed with cold milk as a remedy to remove phlegm and chronic bronchitis. Root powder or root juice is used as an effective remedy for abdominal swellings. Seeds mashed with honey helps relieve tonsillitis.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	It is suitable for growing in parks and gardens, on trellises, pergolas or fences for its attractive blue flowers.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	Skyrise / Balcony, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola

Thematic Landscaping

Naturalistic Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bee-Attracting Plant
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast

Rootzone Tolerance	Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils, Easy to Grow
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Papery

Foliar Type	Compound (Trifoliate, Odd-Pinnate)
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Obtuse
Foliar Base	Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Herbaceous
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Purple, Blue
Flower Grouping	Solitary

Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Bilateral

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod

Mature Seed Colour(s)	Black
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Moderate (6-10)

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	76
Species ID	1372
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 10 August 2022.

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