What is "black-eyed pea"

Pea \Pea\, n.; pl. Peasor Pease. [OE. pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum; cf. Gr. ?, ?. The final s was misunderstood in English as a plural ending. Cf. Pease.]

1. (Bot.) A plant, and its fruit, of the genus Pisum, of many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume, popularly called a pod.

   Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of, the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the form peas being used in both senses.

2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the seed of several leguminous plants (species of Dolichos, Cicer, Abrus, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum) of a different color from the rest of the seed. Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or less closely related to the common pea. See the Phrases, below. Beach pea (Bot.), a seashore plant, Lathyrus maritimus. Black-eyed pea, a West Indian name for Dolichos sph[ae]rospermus and its seed. Butterfly pea, the American plant Clitoria Mariana, having showy blossoms. Chick pea. See Chick-pea. Egyptian pea. Same as Chick-pea. Everlasting pea. See under Everlasting. Glory pea. See under Glory, n. Hoary pea, any plant of the genus Tephrosia; goat's rue. Issue pea, Orris pea. (Med.) See under Issue, and Orris. Milk pea. (Bot.) See under Milk. Pea berry, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee. Pea bug. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Pea weevil. Pea coal, a size of coal smaller than nut coal. Pea crab (Zo["o]l.), any small crab of the genus Pinnotheres, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp., the European species ( Pinnotheres pisum) which lives in the common mussel and the cockle. Pea dove (Zo["o]l.), the American ground dove. Pea-flower tribe (Bot.), a suborder ( Papilionace[ae]) of leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of the pea. --G. Bentham. Pea maggot (Zo["o]l.), the larva of a European moth ( Tortrix pisi), which is very destructive to peas. Pea ore (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore. Pea starch, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc. Pea tree (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of the genus Caragana, natives of Siberia and China. Pea vine. (Bot.)

   1. Any plant which bears peas.

   2. A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States ( Lathyrus Americana, and other similar species).

      Pea weevil (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil ( Bruchus pisi) which destroys peas by eating out the interior.

      Pigeon pea. (Bot.) See Pigeon pea.

      Sweet pea (Bot.), the annual plant Lathyrus odoratus; also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.

n. 1 An African leguminous plant, of the genus ''Vigna'', widely cultivated as food and forage, specifically (taxlink Vigna unguiculata species noshow=1). 2 The edible seed of these plants. 3 (context Southern US English) Any pale bean with a black spot.

1. n. fruit or seed of the cowpea plant [syn: cowpea]

2. sprawling Old World annual cultivated especially in southern United States for food and forage and green manure [syn: cowpea, cowpea plant, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna sinensis]

3. eaten fresh as shell beans or dried [syn: cowpea]

The black-eyed pea or black-eyed bean, a legume, is a subspecies of the cowpea, grown around the world for its medium-sized, edible bean.

The common commercial variety is called the California Blackeye; it is pale-colored with a prominent black spot. In the American South there are countless varieties, many of them heirloom, that vary in size from the small lady peas to very large ones, as may be seen in the state and municipal farmers' markets. The color of the eye may be black, brown, red, pink or green. All the peas are green when freshly shelled and brown or buff when dried. A popular variation of the black-eyed pea is the purple hull pea; it is usually green with a prominent purple or pink spot. The currently accepted botanical name for the black-eyed pea is Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata, although previously it was classified in the genus Phaseolus. Vigna unguiculata subsp. dekindtiana is the wild relative and Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis is the related asparagus bean. Other beans of somewhat similar appearance, such as the frijol ojo de cabra (goat's eye bean) of northern Mexico, are sometimes incorrectly called black-eyed peas, and vice versa.

Black-eyed Pea is a United States restaurant chain, with outlets primarily in Texas and Colorado.

Two corporate entities operate the restaurants. The Texas restaurants are operated by Restaurants Acquisition I, L.L.C. This company is headquartered in Upper Kirby, Houston.

The Colorado restaurants are operated by RMR Colorado, LLC, headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado in Greater Denver.

Black-eyed pea or '''peas '''may refer to:

• Black-eyed pea, legume that is a subspecies of the cowpea
• Black-eyed Pea (restaurant), American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Southern cuisine
• The Black Eyed Peas, American hip-hop/dance pop music act