Milgarra
Butterfly pea(Clitoria ternatea)
The only Clitoria ternatea cultivar released in Australia (for grazing), registered 20 November 1991 (Reg. No. B-23a-1) by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries. It is a composite line developed by combining selected introduced and naturalized C. ternatea lines over three generations at Walkamin Research Station in north Queensland.
Visual Characteristics
Vigorous, strongly persistent, sparsely pubescent perennial legume with fine twining stems, suberect at base, 0.5-3 m long; pinnate leaves with 5 or 7 leaflets; flowers axillary, blue with a pale yellow base or entirely white. Diploid, 2n=16.
Growing Tips
Adapted to soil textures from loams to heavy clays and most productive on cracking clay soils in the seasonally dry tropics; not suited to arid environments, infertile sandy soils, or areas of frequent frost, waterlogging or flooding. Fresh seed has hard coats, so scarification improves germination. Dry-matter yields have ranged up to ~4000-7500 kg DM/ha under good conditions.
Resistance Information
Disease Resistance
Not bred for disease resistance; powdery mildew, leafspot and anthracnose can occur, especially in a wet autumn, but plants continue to grow and produce viable seed.
Where to Buy
Sourcing information coming soon. Check local nurseries and seed banks for availability.