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Synonyms:
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| Common names:
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| Frequency:
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| Status:
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Native |
Description:
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Robust climber or liane, older stems woody. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets rhombic or ovate, up to 12 × 11 cm, appressed hairy above, densely silvery velvety below. Inflorescences axillary, pendulous many-flowered racemes, up to 25 cm long; peduncle 15-18 cm long. Calyx velvety and with golden-brown irritant bristles. Flowers greenish-white. Pods up to 13 × 2.5 cm, more or less S-shaped or curved, densely covered in orange-brown, highly irritant bristly hairs, readily dehiscent. |
| Notes:
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Note: in flower this taxon is almost indistinguishable from Mucuna poggei var. pesa, which can be found in similar areas and habitats. In fruit, that species has longer and wider pods, which are indehiscent. |
| Derivation of specific name:
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ferox: very prickly, ferocious |
| Habitat:
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In montane evergreen forest margins. |
| Altitude range: |
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| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution:
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Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. |
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Mozambique distribution:
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Z |
| Growth form(s):
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| Endemic status:
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| Red data list status:
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| Insects associated with this species:
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| Spot characters:
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Display spot characters for this species |
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Content last updated: |
Sunday 12 October 2008 |
| Literature:
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Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 17 - 19. (Includes a picture).
Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 50.
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