Compilation
Mucuna gigantea

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Name

Identification
Mucuna gigantea (Willd.) DC. [family LEGUMINOSAE ]
Related name
  • Mucuna gigantea

Flora

Entry for Mucuna gigantea Willd. DC. [family LEGUMINOSAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 3, Part 5, (2001) Author: B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt
Names
Mucuna quadrialata Baker [family LEGUMINOSAE], in F.T.A. 2: 186 (1871). —E.G. Baker, Legum. Trop. Africa: 379 (1929). —Brenan, Check-list For. Trees Shrubs Tang. Terr.: 434 (1949). Types: Mozambique, Luabo R.; and Muselo (Parker’s) Kirk s.n. (K, syntypes) and from Zanzibar.
Mucuna longipedicellata Hauman [family LEGUMINOSAE], in F.C.B. 6: 133 (1954), nomen; in Bull. Jard. Bot. État 25: 98 (1955). Type from Dem. Rep. Congo (Kivu Province).
Mucuna gigantea subsp. quadrialata Baker Verdc. [family LEGUMINOSAE], in Kew Bull. 24: 287 (1970); in F.T.E.A., Leguminosae, Pap.: 564, fig. 82/2 (1971). —Lock, Leg. Afr. Check-list: 418 (1989).
Mucuna gigantea Willd. DC. [family LEGUMINOSAE], Prodr. 2: 405 (1825). —R.A. Dyer in Bull. Misc. Inform., Kew 1931: 464 (1931). —Verdcourt in F.T.E.A., Leguminosae, Pap.: 564 (1971); Man. New Guinea Leg.: 443, fig. 106F (1979). —Lock, Leg. Afr. Check-list: 418 (1989). —Hennessy in Bothalia 21: 18, fig. 9 (1991). —Verdcourt in Kirkia 14: 3 (1993). Type from India (Malabar).
Dolichos giganteus Willd. [family LEGUMINOSAE], in Linn., Sp. Pl. ed. 4, 3: 1041 (1802).
Information
Large woody liane attaining 8–15 m in length. Stems at first covered with stiff orange-brown hairs, later glabrescent. Leaflets 4.2–11.5 × 2.2–7.5 cm, elliptic or ovate, the laterals oblique, acuminate and markedly apiculate at the apex, rounded at the base, glabrous; petiole 4.7–12 cm long; rhachis 1.8–3.5 cm long; petiolules 5 mm long. Inflorescences mostly from the thick lower stems; rhachis 3–6 cm long; peduncle 4–22 cm long; secondary branches 2–7 mm long, silvery pubescent; pedicels 1–2.5 cm long; bracts 7 × 2.5 mm, oblong; bracteoles 14 × 4 mm, oblong, deciduous. Calyx covered with fine grey pubescence and also long deciduous orange-brown bristles; tube 7–11 mm long; lobes 2–3 mm long, the upper lip scarcely emarginate. Standard pale creamy-green, white or pale lilac, eventually turning black, (2)2.5–3.5 × (1.6)2.2–2.6 cm, round, with very sparse orange bristly hairs, particularly outside at top of claw; wings and keel similarly coloured, (3)3.7–4.6 cm long. Pods stipitate, 8–15.3 × 3.5–5(6.4) × 1–1.9 cm, oblong or oblong-elliptic, margins with 2 wings, densely covered with stiff intensely irritant orange-brown bristles. Seeds brown, densely mottled with black, 2.5–2.9 × 2.1–2.5 × 1.2–1.4 cm, discoid, the faces convex, smooth; hilum extending around the seed-margin for ± three-quarters of the circumference.
Habitat
Coastal scrub and river banks
Range
littoral throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans but also known inland
Altitude range
0–10 m.
10
0
Distribution
Mozambique M Incomati R., fl. & fr. 1.vii.1931, Muir 4769 (K).Mozambique GI Ponta da Barra Falsa, fr. 21.xi.1958, Mogg 28907 (K; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique MS Luabo R., Kirk s.n. (K); Muselo (Parker’s), 6.vi.1858, Kirk s.n. (K).
Notes
This species is so variable throughout its range that it does not seem possible to retain subsp. quadrialata; large flowered specimens occur elsewhere in its range. Mogg 28907 is reported to have purple flowers but this is unusual if not unprecedented

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