Mucuna pruriens (seed)

Nomenclature

Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.   Fabaceae  
Standardized common name (English): velvet bean  
Ayurvedic name(s): atmagupta; kapikacchu

Botanical Voucher Specimen

Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Source: Images courtesy of the C.V. Starr Virtual Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden	Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Source: Images courtesy of the C.V. Starr Virtual Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden	Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Source: Images courtesy of the C.V. Starr Virtual Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden

Macroscopic Characteristics

[Mucuna pruriens] is a leguminous climbing plant ... The fruit is a coriaceous pod, shaped like the Italic letter f, about four inches long, and covered with brown bristly hairs, which easily separate, and when handled stick in the fingers, producing an intense itching sensation. Source: United States Dispensatory (1918)

Microscopic Characteristics

Starch granules seen under polarized light showing observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories	Small group of pigmented osteosclerieds observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories