[Sca-cooks] cowpeas?

[Terry Decker]

If it looks like a black-eyed pea, then you are probably correct.  Cowpea 
and black-eyed pea are both common names for Vigna unguiculata.

Black-eyed peas were certainly known in Europe in late period and may have 
been cultivated by the Romans.  Linguistically, references to "phaseolus" 
prior to 1492 are probably to members of the genus Vigna including cowpeas 
and yard long beans.  After 1492, the New World beans, which later became 
genus Phaseolus, enter the mix and the usage becomes more problematic.

There has been some extensive discussion on this over the years, so I would 
say check the Florilegium.

Bear

> 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?
>
> -- 
> -- Jadwiga Zajaczkowa, Knowledge Pika jenne at fiedlerfamily.net