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Useful Tropical Plants

Mucuna novo-guineensis

Scheff.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Mucuna kraetkei Warb.

Mucuna lenticellosa K.Schum.

Common Name: New Guinea Creeper

No Image.

General Information

Mucuna novo-guineensis is a vigorous climbing shrub with twining stems that can be 30 metres long and 5cm wide near the base[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a drink, medicine and source of materials. A very ornamental plant, valued especially for its spectacular inflorescences, it is often grown in gardens[
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.
].

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

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia to New Guinea

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitClimber
Height25.00 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, 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 is found in the wild in stoney clay, limestone, granite, volcanic and sedimentary soils[
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
].
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

The sap is drunk by men during ceremonial occasions[
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
]. This is probably either as an endurance test or for some effect upon the mind[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Sap is watery, colourless or milky at first slowly turning to red and later to black[
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
].

Medicinal

The crushed root is taken internally to treat shortness of breath[
1534
Title
An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea
Publication
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2015) 11:79
Author
Koch M. et al
Website
http://10.1186/s13002-015-0065-8
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The stems are used for lashing and for traditional bridge construction[
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 sap is used for dying stringbags[
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
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Mucuna+novo-guineensis>

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