Mucuna paniculata
Baker
Fabaceae
Mucuna horrida Baill.
Mucuna myriaptera Baker
Common Name:
General Information
Mucuna paniculata is a climbing shrub with twining stems
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, and is also traded nationally[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Mucuna paniculata has a wide range in northern Madagascar, but its long-term well-being is threatened by habitat destruction due to slash-and-burn land management techniques for facilitating shifting agriculture and selective wood harvesting. The plant is currently classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
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
Range
Africa - northern Madagascar
Habitat
Dry, subhumid and humid montane evergreen forests, often along stream or river margins; at elevations up to 2,500 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 0.00 m |
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.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used medicinally[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. No more information
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.
