• Halinda / हळींदा / Wild Cowpea / Vigna vexillata (L.)
1 1

Halinda / हळींदा / Wild Cowpea / Vigna vexillata (L.)

Local Name: Halinda / हळींदा

Common Name: Wild Cowpea

Botanical Name: Vigna vexillata (L.)

Halinda / हळींदा / Wild Cowpea / Vigna vexillata (L.)

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Climber

  • Occurrence: Grassland; abandoned cultivations; near beach behind dunes; secondary formations; meadows; sunny places; grassy inundated plain

  • Season of Availability: August-October

  • Geography: Pantropical

  • Method of Propagation: Roots

  • Part used for Propagation: Roots

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Tuber

  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: No

  • Ripe: No

  • Both Raw & Ripe: No

  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant

  • As Food: Beans may be eaten; seeds used as a pulse; tubers eaten cooked or boiled.

  • As Medicine: Eating it helps regulate cardic muscle activity and inflammatory markers.

  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

  • Boiling Before Cooking: Yes

  • Pickling: N/A

  • Brining: N/A

  • Fermenting: N/A

  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A

  • Overall Method: Seeds used as a pulse; tubers are boiled or roasted or fried (like a potato)

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: High protein content.

  • Medicinal Benefit: Regulates cardiac muscle function and lowers inflammatory markers.

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Seeds used as a pulse; tubers eaten cooked.

Recipes

  • Tribal Recipe: Tubers can replace potatoes in recipes.