Clitoria ternatea

 *Clitoria ternatea*, commonly known as **butterfly pea**, **Asian pigeonwings**, or **blue pea**, is a flowering plant native to Southeast Asia. It’s widely recognized for its stunning, vibrant blue flowers and numerous medicinal and culinary uses.

### Characteristics:

- **Flowers**: The plant produces striking blue, sometimes white, flowers shaped like a butterfly. The flowers are often used for natural food coloring.

- **Growth Habit**: It’s a perennial vine, which can climb or trail along the ground, making it a popular ornamental plant in gardens.

### Uses and Benefits:

1. **Culinary Uses**: The flowers are often used to make butterfly pea tea, which has a brilliant blue color that turns purple when lemon or lime juice is added. The flowers are also used as a natural food colorant in rice, desserts, and cocktails.

2. **Medicinal Uses**: In traditional medicine, *Clitoria ternatea* is believed to have benefits for memory, brain health, and stress relief due to its antioxidant properties. It is used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicine systems.

3. **Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties**: Contains compounds such as anthocyanins, which may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

The butterfly pea flower tea has gained popularity worldwide for its vibrant color, delicate taste, and potential health benefits.