Cowpeabelongs to the family Fabaceae/Leguminosae (Pea family), genus Vigna and the spesies Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) (2n= 2x = 22) is a member of the Phaseoleae tribe of the Legumi- nosae family. Members of the Phaseoleae include many of the economically important warm season grain and oilseed legumes, such as soybean (Glycine max), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and mungbean (Vigna radiata). The name cowpea probably originated from the fact that the plant was an important source of hay for cows in the southeastern United States and in other parts of the world. Some important local names for cowpea around the world include “niebe,” “wake,” and “ewa” in much of West Africa and “caupi” in Brazil. In the United States, other names used to describe cowpeas include “southernpeas,” “blackeyed peas,” “field peas,” “pinkeyes,” and “crowders.” These names reflect traditional seed and market classes that developed over time in the southern United States. The first written reference of the word 'cowpea' appeared in 1798 in the United States. The name was most likely acquired due to their use as a fodder crop for cows. Cowpea is also known as bachapin bean, southern pea, black eyed cowpea, black eyed dolichos, poona pea, black-eyed pea, rope bean, black-eyed bean, red pea, china bean, marble pea, common cowpea, macassar bean, cowgram, cowpea, kafir bean, cultivated african cowpea, crowder bean, field pea, horse bean, yard long bean, asparagus bean and crowder pea. Name in Indian Languages are in Bengali: Ghangra; Hindi: Chauli, Kulath; Kannada: Alasabde, Alasande; Malayalam: Perumpayar; Marathi: Chavali, Alasunda; Sanskrit: Rajamasah, Mahamasah; Tamil: Kaattu Ulundu, Thattapayir; Telugu: Kaaraamanulu, Alasandalu. Black-eyed peas, a common name for a cowpea cultivar, are named due to the presence of a distinctive black spot on their hilum. There are 7 varieties of cowpea which are named as black eye or purple eye peas, brown eye peas, crowder peas, cream, white acre type, clay types and forage cultivars. Cowpea is an important food and fodder legume cultivated in the tropics and sub-tropics covering 65 countries in Asia and Oceania, the Middle East, Southern Europe, Africa, southern USA and Central and South America. In spite of its importance and wide cultivation, the overall productivity of cowpea is very low with average yield particularly in Africa ranging from 100 to 400 kg/ha. This is due to several biotic, abiotic and physiological constraints. Vegetable cowpea popularly known as Yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis) is an important leguminous vegetable crop of South India. Vegetable cowpea is an important vegetable grown as intercrop in different cropping systems. Vegetable cowpea or Yard long bean is a warm season leguminous crops grown especially for vegetable purpose along the west coast of India. In Goa, pole type varieties are preferred over bushy types as they offer multiple harvests with comparatively longer pods. There is wide variability found for different morphological and other traits in the local types cultivated in the state of Goa. Exploration of genetic variability in the available germplasm is a prerequisite for initiation of any successful breeding program. It is grown all over India, more particularly in the central and Peninsular regions. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are the principle states of cowpea cultivation. The major cowpea growing countries are Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania (all in Africa) and India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and others. In India, the estimated area is about 50,000 hectares. In this review article on Origin, Domestication, Taxonomy, Botanical Description, Genetics and Cytogenetics, Genetic Diversity, Breeding, Uses, Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Cowpea are discussed.
