Mucuna pruriens var. utilis
Bengal Velvet Bean, Cowage Velvet Bean
Other regional names: Cowitch +4 more
- Cowitch
- Florida Velvet Bean
- Lyon Bean
- Mauritius Velvet Bean
- Yokohama Velvet Bean
Also known as: Carpopogon capitatus Roxb. +18 more
- Carpopogon capitatus Roxb.
- Carpopogon niveus Roxb.
- Dolichos hassjoo Siebold
- Hypoestes cochinchinensis (Lour.) Paxton
- Macranthus cochinchinensis Lour.
- Mucuna aterrima (Piper & Tracy) Holland
- Mucuna aterrima (Piper & Tracy) Merr.
- Mucuna atrocarpa F.P.Metcalf
- Mucuna capitata (Roxb.) DC. ex Wight & Arn.
- Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A.Chev.
- Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Holland
- Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merr.
- Mucuna lyonii Merr.
- Mucuna martini H.Lév. & Vaniot
- Mucuna nigra Buch.-Ham.
- Mucuna nivea (Roxb.) DC. ex Wight
- Mucuna pachylobia (Piper & Tracy) Rock
- Mucuna pruriens f. capitata (Roxb.) K.Heyne
- Mucuna pruriens f. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Backer
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Variety
- Botanical Family: Fabaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a climbing perennial or shrub.
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Originating in Tropical Asia, Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (commonly known as Bengal velvet-bean or Cowage Velvet-Bean) is a climbing herbaceous perennial or shrub belonging to the Fabaceae family. Within its native range, this variety is primarily associated with wet tropical conditions. It is a naturally occurring variety of Mucuna pruriens, which is linked below, along with other varieties of this species.
Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Climber / Vine
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
ASIA-TROPICAL
Regions (WGSRPD)
Indian Subcontinent, Indo-China, Malesia
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Bangladesh, India, Malaya, Thailand, Vietnam
Introduced Range
An “Introduced” distribution indicates that the plant is recorded outside its native range in that region as a result of deliberate or accidental human introduction. Introduced records may include casual, naturalized or invasive populations, but do not include plants that are only cultivated or planted without self-sustaining populations.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Central African Republic, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, East Himalaya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Hainan, Honduras, Jawa, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Malawi, Mexico Southwest, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, Northern Territory, Queensland, Réunion, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Trinidad-Tobago, West Himalaya, Windward Is., Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe
Base Species & Variations