Centrosema

Centrosema, the butterfly peas, is a genus of (mainly tropical) American vines in the legume family (Fabaceae). It includes 44 species, which range through the tropical and warm-temperate Americas from the southern United States to northern Argentina. Species include:


 * Centrosema acutifolium Benth.
 * Centrosema angustifolium Benth.
 * Centrosema arenarium Benth.
 * Centrosema arenicola (Small) F.J.Herm.
 * Centrosema bellum Vilchez
 * Centrosema bifidum Benth.
 * Centrosema brachypodum Benth.
 * Centrosema bracteosum Benth.
 * Centrosema brasilianum (L.) Benth.
 * Centrosema capitatum (Rich.) Amshoff
 * Centrosema carajasense Cavalc.
 * Centrosema coriaceum Benth.
 * Centrosema dasyanthum Benth.
 * Centrosema fasciculatum Benth.
 * Centrosema grandiflorum Benth.
 * Centrosema grazielae V.P.Barbosa
 * Centrosema haitense Urb. & Ekman
 * Centrosema heptaphyllum Moric.
 * Centrosema heteroneurum (Standl.) Standl.
 * Centrosema jaraguaense Hoehne
 * Centrosema kermesi Burkart
 * Centrosema latidens Killip & J.F.Macbr.
 * Centrosema lucia-helenae Brandão & Gavil.
 * Centrosema macranthum Hoehne
 * Centrosema macrocarpum Benth.
 * Centrosema molle Mart. ex Benth.
 * Centrosema pascuorum Mart. ex Benth.
 * Centrosema platycarpum Benth.
 * Centrosema plumieri (Turp. ex Pres.) Benth.
 * Centrosema pubescens Benth.
 * Centrosema rotundifolium Mart. ex Benth.
 * Centrosema sagittatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Brandegee
 * Centrosema schottii (Millsp.) K.Schum.
 * Centrosema sericiflorum K.L.Barreto & L.P.Queiroz
 * Centrosema tapirapoanense Hoehne
 * Centrosema teresae Brandão & Sousa Costa
 * Centrosema tetragonolobum R.Schultze-Kraft & R.J.Williams
 * Centrosema triquetrum (Hoffmanns. ex Benth.) Benth.
 * Centrosema unifoliatum (Rose) Lundell
 * Centrosema variifolium Burkart
 * Centrosema venosum Mart. ex Benth.
 * Centrosema vetulum Mart. ex Benth.
 * Centrosema vexillatum Benth.
 * Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth.

Lepidopteran caterpillars that feed on butterfly peas include the two-barred flasher (Astraptes fulgerator), occasionally recorded on C. macrocarpum and C. plumieri at least.

Another plant referred to as butterfly pea from the same subtribe Clitoriinae is the related Clitoria ternatea. However it doesn't belong to the genus Centrosema.

In Jamaica, it is known as Fee Fee and is usually seen at Christmas time. The flower is able to make a whistling sound hence children usually find it useful as a toy.