Mucuna flagellipes

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stizolobium flagellipes

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified under the genus Mucuna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the landscape of West Tropical Africa. Its distribution includes specific territories such as Benin and Ghana. Additionally, it can be located within the borders of Guinea. The species also extends its range into the Ivory Coast. Finally, its presence is recorded in the nation of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Mucuna flagellipes is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on its developmental stage and environmental support. As a woody climber, its life cycle relies on utilizing external structures to elevate its photosynthetic organs above the ground level, ensuring access to sunlight within its tropical habitat. Its growth strategy involves establishing a robust root system that supports a climbing habit, allowing it to navigate through complex vegetation to reach higher light intensities. This phanerophytic nature is essential for its survival, as it enables the plant to bypass the shaded forest floor and direct its energy toward reproductive success through the production of specialized flowers and seeds.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Mucuna flagellipes is characterized by its robust, woody structure, functioning as an obligatory climber in the form of a large liana. It exhibits a significant growth habit, reaching a mean plant height of approximately 10 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies toward its host plants.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mucuna flagellipes is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common among many tropical climbing legumes that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Despite belonging to the Fabaceae family, which is traditionally associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation, this specific species is identified as a non-nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess the physiological mechanism to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms through symbiotic relationships with rhizobia. Its metabolic processes are therefore reliant on the uptake of nitrogen from the surrounding soil substrate to support its growth and secondary metabolite production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mucuna flagellipes follows a seasonal pattern characterized by specific flowering and fruiting cycles. The flowering period is concentrated around August, though the specific duration and timing can vary depending on environmental conditions. Following the flowering stage, the plant transitions into its fruiting phase; however, the exact timeline for fruit production is variable and does not follow a fixed monthly schedule, meaning the onset and conclusion of fruiting can occur at any time throughout the year.

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruiting time :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Mucuna flagellipes has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include D-galactose, D-glucose, D-mannose.

D-galactose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

D-glucose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

D-mannose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Preparations

Mucuna flagellipes has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Gum.

Gum

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)