Velvet bean
Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.
Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is a leguminous vine whose pods carry itching hairs; its seeds are rich in protein and L-dopa; used as medicine, food and green manure, also called cowitch or cowhage.
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Velvet bean — SeedsVelvet bean — Plant
Velvet bean — Leaves
Velvet bean — Flowers
Velvet bean — Flower (2)
Velvet bean — PodsVelvet bean — SeedsVelvet bean — PlantOverview
Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens), also called cowitch, cowhage or monkey tamarind, is a herbaceous climbing legume (Fabaceae) widespread across the tropics of Asia, Africa and the Americas. The vine can reach 4–15 m and has hairy stems. The leaves are trifoliolate with ovate–lanceolate leaflets hairy beneath. The drooping racemes are 10–30 cm long with pea-shaped flowers from creamy-white to purplish-red. The flat pods are 4–9 cm long and covered with fine bristles that itch intensely on contact; inside are 4–6 cream or dark brown seeds. The seeds are rich in protein and starch and, notably, contain L-dopa, a dopamine precursor researched for supporting the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The plant prefers a humid tropical climate, grows wild and is cultivated as green manure and a cover crop. In Vietnam it occurs in many regions and its seeds are collected for medicine and food.
Life cycle
From seed to productPlant
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Mucuna_pruriens_%2815431%29.jpg/1920px-Mucuna_pruriens_%2815431%29.jpg
Flowers
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Mucuna_pruriens_flowers.jpg
Pods
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/The_pods_of_Mucuna_pruriens_DSC_0108.jpg/1280px-The_pods_of_Mucuna_pruriens_DSC_0108.jpg
Seeds
https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Mucuna_pruriens_-_cultivated_white-seeded_form%2C_Hang_Hing_brand.jpg/1920px-Mucuna_pruriens_-_cultivated_white-seeded_form%2C_Hang_Hing_brand.jpg
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- India & South Asia30%
- Southeast Asia (incl. Vietnam)30%
- Africa20%
- Tropical America10%
- Others10%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Carbohydrates (starch)40%
- Protein28%
- Fibre12%
- Water8%
- Fat6%
- Minerals & others6%
Uses
- Medicine: seeds contain L-dopa, researched for Parkinson support; used in traditional tonics
- Food: seeds boiled well (water discarded) or dehusked for protein-rich meals and flour
- Agriculture: green manure, cover crop, erosion control, green fodder
- Caution: pod bristles itch intensely; seeds need thorough preparation before eating
Properties
- Form
- Herbaceous climber
- Flower
- Creamy-white to purple
- Nature
- Warm
- Actions
- Tonic for kidney, yang-strengthening
Habitat & conservation
Velvet bean is a climber of humid tropical and subtropical climates; it grows wild along forest edges, in scrub and waste ground and is cultivated as green manure and a cover crop. It has few pests and produces large biomass. It is propagated by seed. In Vietnam it occurs in many provinces; its seeds are collected for medicine and food.
Conservation
A widely distributed tropical species, not yet assessed by IUCN (NE). Its seeds are promoted by FAO as a potential food source. Legume family (Fabaceae), genus Mucuna.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. — Kew Science, 2026
- 2Velvet bean — mô tả, thành phần, sử dụng — Wikipedia tiếng Anh, 2026
- 3Đậu mèo rừng — đặc điểm, công dụng — Wikipedia tiếng Việt, 2026
- 4黧豆 Mucuna pruriens — 形態、用途 — Wikipedia tiếng Trung, 2026
- 5Nguồn ảnh: Nativeplants garden (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Scott Zona (CC BY 2.0) — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Agong1 (CC BY-SA 3.0) / Atudu (CC BY 3.0) / Leo Breman (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons,