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Accession Data:

Clitoria ternatea L.

  • subg. Clitoria

  • Common Name: Butterfly Pea
  • Family: Fabaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: native range obscure, widely naturalized in tropical areas

  • Uses: Ayuvrvedic Traditions have used this plant in different systems of the body.

    In the digestive system, this is plant can be used to aid in nausea, refraining from vomiting, bleeding from the rectum, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The seed can be powdered down and taken for relief. 4

    While the plant works well to stop bleeding, it is also used to cleanse the blood. It is a blood purifier, tonic, and will aid against skin diseases: acne, eczema, rashes, and rheumatic disorders.

    In the Nervous system, this plant can be used as a remedy for mental disorders: learning disabilities, memory loss, manic episodes, balancing of hormones, etc. Extracts have been used as a sedative and can aid in pain felt as migraines, headaches and a stiff neck.

    Used in cases of infertility for both male and female, extracts of the plant are used in tonics. Treats: Prolapsed uterus and impotence.

    Other properties involve antioxidant, antipyretic, and antibacterial.

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 201600131
  • Source: Paul Cooper - Cornell
  • Accession Date: 07-22-2016
  • Bench: 1207 - AUS:East Bench NC
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 04-07-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: eurosid I
  • Order: Fabales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • SubFamily: Faboideae
  • Tribe: Phaseoleae
  • SubTribe: Clitoriinae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016

References (internal):

  • Medicinal Plants
  • Medicinal Plants - Ayurveda Medicine
  • Medicinal Plants - Digestive System
  • Medicinal Plants - Circulatory System
  • Medicinal Plants - Integumentary System
  • Medicinal Plants - Nervous System
  • Medicinal Plants - Urinary System
  • Medicinal Plants - Reproductive System

References (external):

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Monday, September 04, 2017.
  2. Clitoria ternatea at Wikipedia. Last accessed on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.
  3. Clitoria ternatea at ARS-GRIN. Last accessed on Monday, September 04, 2017.
  4. Clitoria Ternatea (Butterfly Pea) Uses, Benefits And Side Effects from Medicinal Plants and their Uses. Last accessed on Thursday, February 15, 2018.

data regenerated on Mon, 07 Apr 2025 08:24:11 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Clitoria ternatea

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Fabaceae

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae

  • Delonix regia

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Tribe Cassieae

  • Cassiinae: Cassia fistula
  • Cassiinae: Senna corymbosa
  • Ceratoniinae: Ceratonia oreothauma W/C
  • Ceratoniinae: Ceratonia siliqua
  • Ceratoniinae: Ceratonia siliqua

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Tribe Detarieae

  • Schotia afra
  • Schotia brachypetala
  • Tamarindus indica

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Amorpheae

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Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Desmodieae

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Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Genisteae

  • Genista canariensis
  • Ulex europaeus

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Millettieae

  • Derris elliptica

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Phaseoleae

  • Cajaninae: Rhynchosia phaseoloides
  • Clitoriinae: Clitoria ternatea
  • Erythrininae: Apios americana
  • Erythrininae: Erythrina crista-galli

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Sophoreae

  • Baphia racemosa

Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Acacieae

  • Acacia angustissima
  • Acacia arabica
  • Acacia brachybotrya
  • Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae
  • Acacia saligna
  • Vachellia cornigera
  • Vachellia farnesiana
  • Vachellia hindsii

Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Ingeae

  • Archidendron grandiflorum
  • Calliandra californica
  • Calliandra haematocephala
  • Inga edulis

Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Mimoseae

  • Leucaena leucocephala
  • Mimosa pudica
  • Prosopis juliflora
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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