The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual grain legume that is an important crop in many regions. The plant has been used as forage for animals and for cow feed. It can be short and bushy or grow as a long vine up to 2 m tall. The edible seeds and seed pods are very small and kidney-shaped.

The grain of grain sorghum is utilized for human consumption, animal feed, and ethanol manufacturing. It is commonly grown in tropical and subtropical countries, originating in Africa. The grain is used to make liquor, animal feed, and bio-based ethanol, among other things.

An important food crop in some areas, zombi pea, or Vigna vexillata, is a perennial climbing plant that thrives in a variety of conditions. In addition to being cultivated for its tubers, it is also grown as a ground cover and green manure.

Flame lily (Gloriosa superba) is a climbing flowering plant also known as the tiger claw, fire lily, and creeping lily. Flame lily attracts sunbirds and butterflies. This plant is extremely toxic when ingested.

Maize (Zea mays) is a well known domesticated cereal grain first domesticated in Mexico. In much of the world it is also called corn. Worldwide cultivation of maize surpasses other prominent grains like wheat and rice. Maize must be planted in the spring due to its intolerance for cold weather.

The common name for Vigna luteola derives from "waakimbala", a Native American Chickasaw word that means "hairypod cowpea." This plant has a particularly robust ability to repel pests because of the high levels of quercetin and isorhamnetin in its leaves. The genus name "luteola" translates to "yellow", referring to the plant's gold-colored flowers.