Mucuna coriacea
irritans
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (9)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Road accross from Mpunga Rangercamp camp, Moribane Forest
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Mucuna irritans Burtt Davy |
| Common names: | Buffalo bean (English) |
| Frequency: | very common |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Trailing or climbing herb with annual stems growing from a perennial root stock. The fruits and parts of the flower are densely covered in highly irritant hairs. |
| Type location: |
South Africa |
| Notes: |
See Mucuna pruriens for comparison. The irritant hairs cause a severe burning rash at the slightest touch. The ripe fruits lose their hairs so that even contact with grass or other vegetation nearby may have the same result. |
| Derivation of specific name: | coriacea: leathery, thick-leaved; irritans: irritant, referring to the the highly irritant hairs. |
| Habitat: | Mostly at lower altitudes in Brachystegia woodland, riverine scrub and wooded hillsides. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1550 m |
| Flowering time: | Jan - May |
| Worldwide distribution: | From the DRC and East Africa south to South Africa |
| FZ divisions: | N,Z,T,MS,GI,M |
| Growth form(s): | Climber, shrub over 2 m. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Tuesday 24 December 2019 |
| Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 39. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 224. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 247. Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 20 - 22. 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. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 59, plate 84 Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 101. |
Other sources of information about Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans:
Our websites:
Flora of Malawi: Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritansFlora of Zambia: Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans
Flora of Zimbabwe: Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Mucuna coriaceaAfrican Plant Database: Mucuna coriacea
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Mucuna coriacea
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Mucuna coriacea
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Mucuna coriacea
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Mucuna coriacea
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Mucuna coriacea
JSTOR Plant Science: Mucuna coriacea
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Mucuna coriacea
Plants of the World Online: Mucuna coriacea
Tropicos: Mucuna coriacea
Wikipedia: Mucuna coriacea