Mucuna pruriens (L.)DC.

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Status: Accepted
Genus: Mucuna Adans.
Tribe: Phaseoleae
References: [2830][1963][1409][1915][1056][453][210]

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Other names:

• Dolichos pruriens L. [Synonym] [1290][1915][1645][1414][1409][1342][1056][1179]
  
• Mucuna atropurpurea sensu auct. [Misapplied] [3052][3057][1915]
  
• Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.)A.Chev. [Synonym] [300]
  
• Mucuna esquirolii A.Leveille [Synonym] [1179]
  
• Mucuna nivea (Roxb.)DC. [Synonym] [300]
  
• Mucuna prurita (L.)Hook. [Synonym] [1179]
  
• Mucuna prurita Hook. [Synonym] [1645]
  
• Stizolobium pruritum (Wight)Piper [Synonym] [1409][1290][1645]
  

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Common Names:

• Buffalo Bean [28]
  
• Cow-itch [2153] [453]
  
• Cowage Velvetbean [1902]
  
• Cowitch [1056]
  
• Fogarate [2157]
  
• Gratey [2157]
  
• Hell Fire Bean [28]
  
• Itchy Bean [28]
  
• Pica Pica [1409]
  
• Poil … Gratter [1290]
  
• Pois Velu [2157]
  
• Pois-gratter [1290]
  
• Velvet Bean [2157]
  

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Descriptors:

• Habit:
  • Herb
  • Shrub
• Lifespan:
  • Annual
  • Perennial
• Stems:
  • Climbing
• Source(s):
  • 1988(Africa)Lock JM
  • 1988(Americas)Zarucchi JL
  • 1990(New Zealand & Pacific)Horn P
  • 1993 Polhill RM
  • 1993 Zarucchi JL
  • 1993(Indian Ocean)Lock JM & Ireland H
  • 1996(Japan)Ohashi H
  • 1999-05 Heald J
• Conservation Status:
  • Not Threatened

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Uses:

• Environmental [2823] [2968] [213]
  
• Food and Drink [2828] [230]
  
• Forage [230]
  
• Medicine [3053] [230]
  
• Toxins [210]
  

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Geographical Distribution:

• Africa
  • Angola-ISO [210]
  • Burundi [8]
  • Cameroon [8]
  • Chad [64]
  • Equatorial Guinea-ISO [8]
  • Ethiopia [210]
  • Ghana [212]
  • Guinea [212]
  • Guinea Bissau [212]
  • Ivory Coast [8]
  • Kenya [210]
  • Liberia [212]
  • Malawi [210]
  • Mozambique [210]
  • Nigeria [212]
  • Sao Tome & Principe [217]
  • Senegal [8]
  • Sierra Leone [212]
  • South Africa [8]
  • Sudan [29]
  • Tanzania [210]
  • Togo [212]
  • Uganda [210]
  • Zaire [210]
  • Zambia [210]
  • Zimbabwe [210]

• Asia [210] [1179] [1979] [2823] [2830]
  • China [1179]
  • Japan [2823]
  • Philippines [1979]
  • Taiwan [1179] [2830]

• Caribbean [453] [1056] [1290] [1409] [2153] [2157]
  • Bahamas [2153]
  • Cayman Is [453]
  • Cuba [1409]
  • Dominican Republic [2157]
  • Guadeloupe [1290]
  • Haiti [2157]
  • Jamaica [1056]
  • Martinique [1290]

• Central America [1645]
  • Belize [1242] [1645]
  • Costa Rica [1367] [1658]
  • El Salvador [1645]
  • Guatemala [1645]
  • Mexico(South East) [1645]
  • Panama [1645]

• Indian Ocean [1915] [3054] [3057]
  • Comoro Is [3054]
  • Madagascar [210]
  • Mauritius [210] [1915]
  • Reunion [1915]
  • Seychelles [3057]

• North America
  • United States [1431]

• Pacific Ocean [2235] [2968]
  • Northern Marianas [2235]
  • Society Is [2968]

• South America [210] [2285]
  • Brazil [1103] [1414]
  • Surinam [2285]
  • Venezuela [1190]

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Notes:

• Two varieties, pruriens & utilis (FTEA, ref.210).
  
• Var.pruriens has irritant hairs on pods and calyx. (FTEA).
  

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Last Update: 14/06/2001 12:57:34