[Sca-cooks] cowpeas?

[ranvaig at columbus.rr.com]

>Hi everyone. We found some 'cow peas' at the Indian market, and I think
>they are period, but I haven't found reference to them in a cursory
>look through the sources I've got to hand. Anyone have solid knowledge
>about this?

I'm not sure this counts as solid knowledge, but they came from India 
and at least one website says they were known in 14th c Italy.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/vegetabletravelers/cowpeas.html