Mucuna mollissima Teijsm. & Binn. ex Kurz

Wiriadinata, H., Ohashi, H. & Adema, F., 2016, Notes on Malesian Fabaceae (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) 16. The genus Mucuna, Blumea 61 (2), pp. 90-124 : 112-113

29. Mucuna mollissima Teijsm. & Binn. ex Kurz

Mucuna mollissima Teijsm. & Binn. ex Kurz (1874) 187; Verdc. (1979) 441, f. 106d; Wilmot-Dear (1990) 23. — Stizolobium mollissimum (Teijsm. & Binn. ex Kurz) Piper (1917) 53. — Type: Anon. s.n. (BO?), Cult in Hort. Bog. (originally from Halmahera).

Mucuna cyanosperma K.Schum. in K. Schum. & Hollrung (1899) 98; Burck (1893) 183, t. 13. — Type: Hollrung 411 (holo B†), Papua New Guinea, bei Hatzfeldthafen.

Mucuna amblyodon Harms (1920) 372; Verdc. (1979) 438. — Type: Peekel 180 (B?), Bismarck Arch., Neu-Mecklenburg, Namatanai.

Mucuna baileyana Merr. & L.M.Perry (1942) 404. — Type: Brass 1104 (holo A; iso K), Papua New Guinea, Vailala River, Ihu.

Mucuna clemensiae Merr. & L.M.Perry (1948) 156. — Type: Clemens 6573 (holo A; iso K), NE New Guinea, Tobou.

Mucuna urens DC. var. papuana F.M. Bailey (1910) 20. — Syntypes: Le Hunte s.n. (n.v.), Schenkler s.n. (K) (see Note).

Distribution — Malesia: Moluccas; New Guinea: Solomon Islands.

Habitat & Ecology — Primary and secondary forest, disturbed forest, Sago swamps, forest edge, along paths and roads. Soil: black volcanic soil, sand, clay, rocky clay, gravel. Altitude up to 1500 m. Flowering and fruiting: throughout the year.

Note — Wilmot-Dear (1990) gives Schlenker s.n. as the type of M. urens var. papuana . However, Bailey based his variety on sterile specimens collected by Le Hunte and fruits collected by Schlenker, stating: “All the above is from some specimens collected by Sir G.R. Le Hunte.” That description is followed by a description of the pods and seeds collected by Schlenker. Clearly a lectotype should be chosen from the specimens of Le Hunte. The calyx in bud is ± cylindrical. When the corolla expands the calyx widens and becomes campanulate, however, it is not pushed downwards and in the end it is not tucked up. Longest hairs 0.4–1.5 mm long.