Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Centrosema

Centrosema, the butterfly peas, is a genus of vines in the legume family (Fabaceae). It includes 45 species, which are native to tropical and sub-tropical Americas from the southern United States to northern Argentina.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
499 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Centrosema
Centrosema pubescens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Phaseoleae
Subtribe: Clitoriinae
Genus: Centrosema
(DC.) Benth.1
Type species
Centrosema brasilianum
(L.) Benth.2
Species1

45, see text

Synonyms1
  • Bradburya Raf.
  • Cruminium Desv.
  • Platysema Benth.
  • Steganotropis Lehm.
  • Vexillaria Benth., nom. illeg.

Centrosema, the butterfly peas,3 is a genus of vines in the legume family (Fabaceae). It includes 45 species, which are native to tropical and sub-tropical Americas from the southern United States to northern Argentina.

The following is a list of all accepted species as of 29 May 2025:

  • Centrosema acutifolium Benth.
  • Centrosema angustifolium (Kunth) Benth.
  • Centrosema arenarium Benth.
  • Centrosema arenicola (Small) F.J.Herm.
  • Centrosema bellum Vilchez
  • Centrosema bifidum Benth.
  • Centrosema brachypodum Benth.
  • Centrosema bracteosum Benth.
  • Centrosema brasilianum (L.) Benth.
  • Centrosema capitatum (Rich.) Amshoff
  • Centrosema carajasense Cavalc.
  • Centrosema coriaceum Benth.
  • Centrosema dasyanthum Benth.
  • Centrosema fasciculatum Benth.
  • Centrosema flavescens Carnevali, Duno & Angulo
  • Centrosema grandiflorum Benth.
  • Centrosema grazielae V.P.Barbosa
  • Centrosema haitense Urb. & Ekman
  • Centrosema heptaphyllum Moric.
  • Centrosema heteroneurum (Standl.) Standl.
  • Centrosema jaraguaense Hoehne
  • Centrosema kermesi Burkart
  • Centrosema latidens Killip & J.F.Macbr.
  • Centrosema lucia-helenae Brandão & Gavil.
  • Centrosema macranthum Hoehne
  • Centrosema macrocarpum Benth.
  • Centrosema molle Mart. ex Benth.
  • Centrosema pascuorum Mart. ex Benth.
  • Centrosema platycarpum Benth.
  • Centrosema plumieri (Turpin ex Pers.) Benth.
  • Centrosema pubescens Benth.
  • Centrosema rotundifolium Mart. ex Benth.
  • Centrosema sagittatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Brandegee
  • Centrosema schottii (Millsp.) K.Schum.
  • Centrosema sericiflorum K.L.Barreto & L.P.Queiroz
  • Centrosema tapirapoanense Hoehne
  • Centrosema teresae Brandão & Sousa Costa
  • Centrosema tetragonolobum R.Schultze-Kraft & R.J.Williams
  • Centrosema triquetrum (Hoffmanns. ex Benth.) Benth.
  • Centrosema unifoliatum (Rose) Lundell
  • Centrosema variifolium Burkart
  • Centrosema venosum Mart. ex Benth.
  • Centrosema vetulum Mart. ex Benth.
  • Centrosema vexillatum Benth.
  • Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth.

Lepidopteran caterpillars that feed on butterfly peas include the two-barred flasher (Astraptes fulgerator), occasionally recorded on C. macrocarpum and C. plumieri at least.4

Another plant referred to as butterfly pea from the same subtribe Clitoriinae is the related Clitoria ternatea. However it doesn't belong to the genus Centrosema.

In Jamaica, it is known as Fee Fee and is usually seen at Christmas time. The flower is able to make a whistling sound hence children usually find it useful as a toy.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Centrosema (DC.) Benth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  2. "Centrosema (DC.) Benth., Commentat. Legum. Gen. 53 (1837), nom. cons". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  3. USDA (2007)
  4. Hébert et al. (2004), Brower et al. (2006)