The leaves or young shoots of cowpea have a slightly bitter taste and can be eaten. The leaves of cowpea can be eaten in cold dishes, stir-fried, etc., and have a fresh and refreshing taste. The leaves of cowpea are very nutritious and have many functions and effects. The leaves of cowpea can be used externally to promote blood circulation, and can also be decoctioned in water to treat edema. The leaves of cowpea have the same effect of promoting digestion as cowpea and can treat habitual constipation.

Morphological characteristics of broad bean leaves

It is a perennial or annual herb, 30-180cm high. Stem erect, unbranched, hairless. Even-numbered pinnately compound leaves; stipules are large, semi-arrow-shaped, with white membranous edges, sparsely serrated, hairless, with vestigial tendrils at the top of the rachis; leaflets 2-6, leaves elliptical or broadly elliptical to elongated, 4-8cm long, 2.5-4cm wide, apex rounded or blunt, with a fine tip, base wedge-shaped, entire margin.

The racemes are axillary or solitary, and the total pedicel is very short; the calyx is bell-shaped, membranous, about 1.3cm long, with 5 lobes, the lobes are lanceolate, and the upper 2 lobes are slightly shorter; the corolla is butterfly-shaped, White, with reddish-purple markings, flag petal obovate.

Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Bava Bean Leaves