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Butterfly pea
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A vivid blue butterfly pea flower with layered petals, surrounded by fresh green leaves in a lush botanical garden. A close-up photograph of white butterfly pea flower with soft, velvety petals set against lush green foliage. A vibrant purple butterfly pea flower with delicate petals and a distinctive curved shape, blooms among green leaves. A clear glass filled with blue butterfly pea flower tea, placed alongside fresh butterfly pea flowers and Thai herbs. The items are arranged on a red stone floor, creating a natural, earthy setting that contrasts with the vibrant blue colour of the drink.
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A vivid blue butterfly pea flower with layered petals, surrounded by fresh green leaves in a lush botanical garden.
Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) The flowers of this plant hang upside down.

Butterfly pea

plant
Also known as: Asian pigeonwings, Clitoria ternatea, aparajita, blue pea, bluebellvine, gokarn, kakkattan, malayamukki, sankhpushpi, sankupuspam(Show More)
Written by
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She holds a PhD in zoology from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, and has more than seven years of experience in science communication...
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
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ā€¢History

Butterfly pea, (Clitoria ternatea), tropical climbing vine native to Asia and Africa. The generic name of the plant is derived from the word clitoris and refers to the resemblance of its flowers to the external female genitalia in humans. The specific epithet means ā€œof Ternateā€ in Latin, suggesting that the plant originated on the Indonesian island of Ternate, although modern experts consider this attribution to be inaccurate. The plant has been introduced to the tropical...

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