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
**
Classification
FABALES
Mucuna pruriens (L.)DC. - COWITCH; VELVETBEAN
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.

Legend

County
County - Species Present
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
Puerto Rico
 
Añasco Mun.
09 Nov 1993
44167
M. Nee
 
USA
Florida
Broward Co.
12 Feb 2002
693
P. L. Howell
USA
Florida
Lee Co.
28 Nov 1967
6024
W. C. Brumbach
CULTIVATED.
USA
Florida
Lee Co.
08 Nov 1969
6990
W. C. Brumbach
CULTIVATED.
USA
Florida
Miami-Dade Co.
11 Dec 1968
559
G. N. Avery
USA
Florida
Miami-Dade Co.
27-28 Oct 1969
31935
O. K. Lakela
USA
Florida
Miami-Dade Co.
20 Nov 1967
14
H. W. Barrick
USA
Florida
Miami-Dade Co.
03 Oct 1970
s.n.
W. T. Gillis
CULTIVATED. FG-68-298; source unknown.
USA
Florida
Miami-Dade Co.
03 Oct 1970
9894
W. T. Gillis
CULTIVATED. FG-68-298.
USA
Florida
Miami-Dade Co.
31 Dec 2015
4000
A. R. Franck
Plant Photos
Mucuna pruriens - 5
Mucuna_pruriens4.jpg
Mucuna pruriens - 5
Mucuna_pruriens3.jpg
Mucuna pruriens - 5
Mucuna_pruriens5.jpg
Mucuna pruriens - 139
Mucuna_pruriens2.jpg
Mucuna pruriens - 229
Mucuna_pruriens.jpg