Mucuna biplicata (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Mucuna biplicata Teijsm. & Binnend. ex Kurz
- Protologue: Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 43(2): 186 (1874).
Vernacular names
- Malaysia: merading (Bidayuh, Sarawak), akar beruru (Iban, Sarawak), kachang paleh (Peninsular Malaysia).
Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.
Uses
In Peninsular Malaysia heated leaves are applied externally on the abdomen to reduce fever. In Sarawak the black sap from the bark is used to promote healing of cuts and wounds. Sap obtained from the fresh leaves is topically applied for curing mouth-pain in babies. The stems are used as a mosquito repellent.
Observations
A liana up to 20 m long, glabrous; leaves 20-25(-40) cm long, terminal leaflet broadly elliptical, 10-12(-18) cm × 5-7(-11) cm; inflorescence 5-9 cm long, with several branches at or near the base, bearing 4-40 side-branches; calyx 5-6 mm × 8-10 mm, corolla violet to purple, standard c. 2.5 cm long, wings and keel 4-5 cm long; fruit broadly oblong, 7-10 cm × 2.5-5 cm × 1-2 cm, not swollen around the seeds, with abundant irritant bristles, 3-5-seeded. Citations for Indo-China refer to M. revoluta Wilmot-Dear. M. biplicata is found in relatively open or disturbed forest from sea-level up to 70 m altitude.
Selected sources
121, 132, 250, 1000.
Main genus page
Authors
K.R. Dahal & J.L.C.H. van Valkenburg