Mucuna aurea C.B.Rob.

Wiriadinata, H., Ohashi, H. & Adema, F., 2016, Notes on Malesian Fabaceae (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) 16. The genus Mucuna, Blumea 61 (2), pp. 90-124 : 105

4. Mucuna aurea C.B.Rob.

Mucuna aurea C.B.Rob. (1908) 183; Merr. (1910) 118; (1923) 307; Wilmot-Dear (1991b) 229. — Type: Williams 1292 (holo NY; iso K, PNH, US), Philippines, Luzon , Prov. Benguet, Baguio.

Distribution — Malesia: Philippines: Luzon.

Habitat & Ecology — Thickets.Altitude c. 1650 m. Flowering: July, November, December; fruiting: March.

Note — This species is remarkable in its golden yellowish calyx indumentum. H.C. Conklin & Buwaya (PNH 79648) give the flower colour as red, however, the duplicates of this specimen in K and L lack flowers. Mucuna aurea is very similar to M. platyphylla differing mainly in the somewhat smaller flowers and slightly larger pods. The flower colour of M. aurea is recorded as red, while M. platyphylla has white to green or yellowish flowers. Mucuna platyphylla is up to now not found in the Philippines.According to the original description the flowers occur singly or in pairs. However, the few specimens seen all have brachyblasts with three scars, so presumably there have been three flowers, as is normally found in Mucuna .