Mucuna bracteata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A twining herb. The leaves are 14-30 cm long. They have leaflets. The flowering shoots are in the axils of leaves and are 18-41 cm long. The flowers are clustered along these. They are deep purple. The pod is narrow and 6-9 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. There are 3-6 dark brown seeds. These are 9 mm long by 6 mm wide and 4 mm thick.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in forests and by rivers between 600-2,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Nwe-bok, Wakmi, Wee-te

Synonyms

Carpopogon bracteatum Roxb.; Mucuna brevipes Craib; Mucuna exserta C. E. C. Fisch.; Mucuna venulosa (Piper) Merr. & F. P Metcalf; Stizolobium venulosum Piper;