Catjang

Catjang
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Vigna
Species:	V. unguiculata
Subspecies:	V. u. subsp. cylindrica
Trinomial name
Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrica

Catjang (Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrica) is a subspecies of cowpea. The catjang plant is native to Africa, and is an erect densely branched shrubby perennial of Old World tropics. It now grows in other warm regions, as well. In the US, it is grown primarily as fodder, but elsewhere is used as a food crop. The name comes from Indonesian and Malay kacang, a generic word for beans and nuts.

Nutrition

Catjang is low in saturated fat and is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese, and a very good source of folate and magnesium.

References

• Cowpeas, catjang, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt, at Self (magazine)