climbing mountain-bean

Vigna umbellata is a leguminous vine with yellow flowers and small edible beans. It is primarily cultivated as a dried pulse and is used for fodder, green manure, and vegetable production. The plant is typically grown in upland areas and as an intercrop in Indo-China, southern China, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It is a short-lived annual and is well-suited for mixed cropping systems. Despite its potential for producing high-quality grain and fodder, it remains underutilized and under-researched. Its cultivation has declined in lowland areas due to the shift to shorter-duration rice varieties. The species is notable for its rapid establishment and adaptability to a range of soil conditions.