The species Vigna subterranea belongs to the genus Vigna, and subtribe Phaseolinae, the tribe Phaseoleae, family Papilionaceae or Leguminosae and sub-family Papilionoideae (Baudoin and Mergeai, 2001). In 1980 Bambara groundnut was renamed Vigna subterranea after having been known as Voandzeia subterranea for more than a century (Borget, 1992). In 1763, Linnaeus described it in species Plantarum, and named it Glycine subterranea, in accordance with his system of nomenclature. Du Petit–Thouars (1806) discovered the crop in Madagascar and proposed the name Voandzeia subterranea (L). Thouars, which was widely used by subsequent researchers for over a century. Recently, detailed botanical studies were undertaken by Maréchal et al. (1978), who found
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Bambara groundnut is believed to be autogamous and floral reproduction starts 30 to 35 days after sowing and may continue until the end of the plant’s life (Directorate Plant Production, 2009; Swanevelder, 1998). Flowers are normally carried in pairs on short peduncles by a pedicle which arises from the axis formed by the petioles and the stem (Doku, 1968). Flowers formed on the same peduncle do not open simultaneously, although they will open within a 24 hours interval. Delayed flower opening may be as a result of photoperiod, low temperatures and cloudy skies (Massawe et al., 2003). It has been reported that in Bambara groundnut fertilization takes place on the same day as anthesis (Linnemann and Craufurd, 1994). After fertilization, the flower stem elongates. During this time, the peduncle elongates to bring the ovaries to the soil level and the pedicels penetrate the soil surface to form the pods (Heller et al., 1995). The sepal enlarges and the pod develops above or just below the soil surface. The pod (1.25–2.5 cm in diameter) is drawn into the soil and ends up lying about 1 cm beneath the surface. Pod development lasts up to 30 days after fertilization and the seed matures over a further 10 days (Swanevelder, 1998). Generally Bambara groundnuts take about three to six months to mature, depending on weather conditions and the cultivar.
Bambara groundnut is believed to be autogamous and floral reproduction starts 30 to 35 days after sowing and may continue until the end of the plant’s life (Directorate Plant Production, 2009; Swanevelder, 1998). Flowers are normally carried in pairs on short peduncles by a pedicle which arises from the axis formed by the petioles and the stem (Doku, 1968). Flowers formed on the same peduncle do not open simultaneously, although they will open within a 24 hours interval. Delayed flower opening may be as a result of photoperiod, low temperatures and cloudy skies (Massawe et al., 2003). It has been reported that in Bambara groundnut fertilization takes place on the same day as anthesis (Linnemann and Craufurd, 1994). After fertilization, the flower stem elongates. During this time, the peduncle elongates to bring the ovaries to the soil level and the pedicels penetrate the soil surface to form the pods (Heller et al., 1995). The sepal enlarges and the pod develops above or just below the soil surface. The pod (1.25–2.5 cm in diameter) is drawn into the soil and ends up lying about 1 cm beneath the surface. Pod development lasts up to 30 days after fertilization and the seed matures over a further 10 days (Swanevelder, 1998). Generally Bambara groundnuts take about three to six months to mature, depending on weather conditions and the cultivar.