Mucuna coriacea Baker
subsp. irritans (Burtt Davy) Verdc.

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Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.

Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.

Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.

Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Nhandar River, Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.

Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans

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.
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: Up to 1550 m
Flowering time:Jan - May
Worldwide distribution: From the DRC and East Africa south to South Africa
Mozambique distribution: 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
Content 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. irritans
Flora of Zambia: Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans
Flora of Zimbabwe: Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Mucuna coriacea
African 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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Mucuna coriacea subsp. irritans.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=131520, retrieved 19 March 2024

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