«Tas. 7978. 
MUCUN A SEMPERVIRENS. 
Native of China. 
Nat, Ord. Leeuminosx.—Subord. PAPILIONACER. 
Genus Mucuna, Adans.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 533.) 
Mucuna sempervirens; frutex alte scandens vel vagans, caule primario basi 
interdum 1 ped. diametro (planta in horto kewensi culta fere 100-pedalis) 
ramulis ultimis volubilibus, foliis trifoliolatis longe petiolatis cum petiolo 
gracili 9-12 poll. longis floribusque primum pilis urentibus vestitis cito 
glabrescentibus, foliolis petiolatis coriaceis nitidis atroviridibus ovato- 
oblongis lateralibus obliquis, omnibus acuminatissimis integerrimis 
3-5 poll. longis, floribus atropurpureis crassis carnosis circiter 2} poll. 
longis racemosis, racemis densis szpius in ramis vetustiotibus fascicu- 
latis interdum in ramis junioribus productis, pedicellis quam floribus 
multo brevioribus, calycis subhemisphezrici tubo lato dorso gibboso limbo 
bilabiato labio superiore brevissime bidentato labio inferiore trilobato 
lobis deltoideis acuminatis, petalis fere coriaceis, vexillo erecto cordi- 
formi concavo basi dorso inflexo apice recarvo, alis horizontalibus oblique 
oblongo-spathulatis intus concavis marginibus superioribus divergentibus, 
carina alas excedente genitalia includente rostrata spinuloso-acuminata, 
- staminibus glabris vexillari libero divergente, antheris biformibus alternis 
versatilibus barbatis cito deciduis, ovario styloque pubescentibus, stylo 
stamina paullo superante, ovulis numerosis, legumine lignoso circiter 
pedali 13 poll. lato inter semina szpe constricto puberulo suturis in- 
crassatis, seminibus compressis oblongo-rotundatis vel reniformibus 9-15 
lin. longis hilo velutino ad § circumdatis. 
M. sempervirens, Hems/. in Journ. Linn, Soc. Bot. vol. xxiii. p. 190; peo 
Garden & Forest, vol. ii. (1889), p. 266; Rafill in Gard. Chron. 1904, — 
vol, i. p. 282. , 
pakie ata 
Mucuna is the Brazilian name of M. pruriens, DC., and 
perhaps of other species, the pods and other parts of 
which are clothed with stinging-hairs, which are used, 
under the name of cowhage or cow-itch, as a mechanical 
anthelmintic. It is almost impossible to handle either 
fresh or herbarium specimens without suffering from the 
stings of these extremely insinuating hairs. Those of 
M. sempervirens are mostly shed at an early stage of the 
development of the parts. a : 
The plant figured in the Magazine (t. 4945) as M. 
prurita, Hook. (M. pruriens, DC.), is not the true plant, but 
M. imbricata, DC.,a native of India. M. pruriens ig 
figured, though not well, in the “ Botanical Register,’ vol. 
-OcToBER Ist, 1904. 
hy 
