| English Name | Hong Kong Mucuna |
|---|---|
| Status in China | Endangered (EN) |
Description:
A tall woody climber. Young shoots and abaxial surface of leaves rusty seriaceous. Leaves pinnately compound; leaflets 3, the terminal one broadly ovate, 5-9 cm long and 3.5-5.5 cm wide, the lateral ones asymmetrical. Racemes borne on old stem, about 3 cm long. Calyx covered with brownish hairs. Corolla purple, papilionaceous; standard orbicular，about 2.5 cm in diam.; wings and keel about 4 cm long, clawed; stamens diadelphous (9+1). Pod long elliptic, 15-17 cm long, winged along the sutures; seeds 4, brown-red, long elliptic, 2.5 cm in diam.
Distribution:
Tai Po, Lam Tsuen Valley, Fung Yuen, Plover Cove, etc. Guangdong (Shenzhen).
Habitat and Ecology:
In lowland broad-leaved evergreen forest. Flowering: Aug.
The large and colorful flowers make it an attractive ornamental plant. It was first discovered from Causeway Bay, Hong Kong around 1850. In Hong Kong, a number of localities are within Country Parks under protection. Ex-situ conservation measures could be explored.
References:
Bentham, G., 1861: Flora Hongkongensis 87. Reeves, London.
李樹剛、張本能，1995：中國植物誌41：172-173。科學出版社，北京。
