Characteristics
Dicots
Mucuna pruriens (L.)DC.
COWITCH; VELVETBEAN
**
This plant is notable for producing irritating hairs on its fruits, containing serotonin (a neurotransmitter) (Bowden et al. 1954) and mucanain (a cysteine protease) (Papoiu et al. 2011). However, some plants do not produce the irritants (Hammerton 2003). Both the non-irritating and irritating forms can be found in Florida .
Not Native
**
Citation
MUCUNA PRURIENS (Linnaeus) de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 405. 1825.
Dolichos pruriens Linnaeus 1759.
INDONESIA: Ambon Island, without data (lectotype: Rumphius, Herb. Amboin. 5: t. 142. 1747). Lectotypified by Merrill, Interpr. Rumph. Herb. Amb. 33, 277. 1917.
Species Distribution Map
Based on vouchered plant specimens from wild populations. Cultivated occurrences are not mapped. Click on a county to display its name.
Source
County
Herbaria
Literature Citation (If Applicable)
Broward
USF
Lee
FLAS
Miami-Dade
USF
Monroe Keys
GH
Palm Beach
USF
Synonyms
Synonym
Full Citation
Basionym
Type
Carpopogon capitatum
Carpopogon capitatum Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832. 3: 284. 1832.
Carpopogon niveum
Carpopogon niveum (de Candolle) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832. 3: 285. 1832.
BASIONYM: Mucuna nivea de Candolle 1825.
Carpopogon pruriens
Carpopogon pruriens (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832. 3: 283. 1832.
BASIONYM: Dolichos pruriens Linnaeus 1754.
Dolichos pruriens
Dolichos pruriens Linnaeus, Herb. Amb. 23. 1754.
TYPE: INDONESIA: Ambon Island, without data (lectotype: Rumphius, Herb. Amboin. 5: t. 142. 1747). Lectotypified by Merrill, Interpr. Rumph. Herb. Amb. 33, 277. 1917.
Marcanthus cochinchinensis
Marcanthus cochinchinensis Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 461. 1790.
Mucuna aterrima
Mucuna aterrima (Piper & Tracy) Holland, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew, Addit. Ser. 9: 216. 1911.
BASIONYM: Stizolobium aterrimum Piper & Tracy 1910.
Mucuna capitata
Mucuna capitata (Roxburgh) Wight & Arnott, Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 255. 1834.
BASIONYM: Carpopogon capitatum Roxburgh 1832.
Mucuna cochinchinensis
Mucuna cochinchinensis (Loureiro) A. Chevalier, Bull. Agric. Inst. Sci. Indochina 1: 91. 1919.
BASIONYM: Marcanthus cochinchinensis Loureiro 1790.
Mucuna deeringiana
Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci. 5: 118. 1910.
BASIONYM: Stizolobium deeringianum Bort 1909.
Mucuna hassjoo
Mucuna hassjoo (Piper & Tracy) Mansfeld, Kulturpflanze 2: 204. 1959.
BASIONYM: Stizolobium hassjoo Piper & Tracy 1910.
Specimens and Distribution
Click on an Accession Number to view additional details about the specimen.
Counties listed: Añasco Mun., Broward, Lee, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach
Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1943 - 2019
Accession No.
Country
State
County
Collection Date
Collector & Collection No
Notes
Image