Centrosema

{{Short description|Genus of legumes}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Centrosema pubescens in Kadavoor.jpg

|image_caption = Centrosema pubescens

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Centrosema

|authority = (DC.) Benth. (1837)

|type_species = Centrosema brasilianum

|type_species_authority = (L.) Benth. (1837)

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = 44, see text

|subdivision_ref = [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1030212-2 Centrosema (DC.) Benth.] Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 15 August 2023.

|synonyms =

• Bradburya {{small|Raf. (1817)}}
• Cruminium {{small|Desv. (1826)}}
• Platysema Benth. (1837)
• Steganotropis Lehm. (1826)
• Vexillaria {{small|Benth. (1837), nom. illeg.}}

|synonyms_ref =

}}

Centrosema, the butterfly peas,USDA (2007) 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:

{{Div col}}

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

{{Div col end}}

Lepidopteran caterpillars that feed on butterfly peas include the two-barred flasher (Astraptes fulgerator), occasionally recorded on C. macrocarpum and C. plumieri at least.Hébert et al. (2004), Brower et al. (2006)

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.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}