Mucuna monosperma
Wight
Fabaceae
Carpopogon monospermum Roxb.
Mucuna anguina Wall.
Mucuna monosperma (Roxb.) DC.
Stizolobium monospermum (Wight) Kuntze
Stizolobium rugosum Moon
Common Name:
General Information
Mucuna monosperma is a large climbing shrub with twining stems.
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
Known Hazards
Mucuna species often possess irritant hairs on the seedpods and sometimes on the flowers and other parts. These hairs consist of 1-2 small basal cells and a large needle-like top cell. The top cell breaks off easily, piercing the skin and injecting chemical compounds that are present in the hairs. The proteolytic enzyme 'Mucunain' is said to be the active agent[
1533- Title
- Notes on Malesian Fabaceae (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) 16. The genus Mucuna
- Publication
- Blumea 61, 2016: 90-124
- Author
- Wiriadinata H.; Ohashi H.; Adema F.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.3767/000651916X692799
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2016
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent treatment
].
The hairs can contaminate clothes or other objects, and remain active when dried, though they can be destroyed by heat[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
374- Title
- Contact-Poisonous Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rohde. M.
- Website
- http://mic-ro.com/plants/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A document on the internet. Gives brief information on about 35 species of plants that can cause severe problems from a single contact with the skin.
,
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
]. Intense itching, with reddening of the skin and small papules or urticaria occur a few minutes after contact with the hairy parts of the plant. There is no serious danger, unless the hairs get into the eye, in which case, in extreme situations, they have caused blindness. To remove the hairs from the skin, adhesive tape and washing with water and soap are considered useful. Dermatitis can be treated with corticosteroid ointment. See a doctor immediately if hairs go into the eyes[
374- Title
- Contact-Poisonous Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rohde. M.
- Website
- http://mic-ro.com/plants/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A document on the internet. Gives brief information on about 35 species of plants that can cause severe problems from a single contact with the skin.
].
Botanical References
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
506- Title
- The Flora of British India. (in 7 volumes)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L.Reeve & Co.; London
- Year
- 1872 - 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but has some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand.
Habitat
Thickets, disturbed forest and clearings; at elevations around 300 metres.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Mucuna species generally grow best in a shady position in a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755- Title
- Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].
Edible Uses
This is a favourite vegetable with Brahmins[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
]. No more information is given.
Seed[
480- Title
- Green Manures and Manuring in the Tropics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sornay P. De. Translated by Flattely F.W.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- John Bale, Sons and Danielsson Ltd.: London
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent work on the subject, even if it was written almost 100 years ago. It also includes a section of useful Legumes. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The boiled seeds are eaten in times of great scarcity[
1587- Title
- Genetic Resources of Under-exploited Legumes/Tribal Pulses of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu
- Publication
- J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. Vol. 35 No.2 (2011)
- Author
- Kalidass C. & Mohan V.R.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. No more information is given, but it is likely that the seed would need to be thoroughly cooked to render it wholesome[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The plant (part not specified) is used as an expectorant in cough and asthma, and is applied externally as a sedative[
615- Title
- Pharmacographia Indica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai.
- Year
- 1890
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
