The Black Mucuna

MANILA, Philippines - Every January, Hawaii’s Lyon’s Arboretum features one of their favorite exotic plants: The Philippine Black Mucuna: Mucuna nigricans (Lour.) Steud. Introduced during the early 90’s, it got everybody in the arboretum excited when it first flowered on one of the big trees. They initially called it Philippine Black Jade Vine because of its similarity to its cousin, Strongylodon macrobotrys (Jade Vine).

Because of the interest generated by the plant, Ray Baker planted some at the front part of the Arboretum from seeds. Last year, the plant showered the area with thousands of maroon-black petals. 

The plant is seldom seen in the Philippines because it is usually found growing on tall trees in the forest and more rarely in urban areas. The plant, according to Dr. Domingo Madulid, curator of Botany Section of the National Museum of Natural History, may be found in Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Surigao.

Mucuna nigricans produces one of nature’s darkest flowers: extremely dark maroon (almost black). The petals are dropped after pollination and for all practical purposes, they are so dark that they appear black. 

This black beauty has its defenses to prevent molestation. Two months after flowering, the vine sets some pods. The seedpods, although very attractive with its golden hair is actually noxious. Grabbing the seedpods at all stages of growth with bare hands will result in thousands of stiff golden hairs penetrating the palm of the hands. Rubbing the skin will drive the hairs deeper into the skin.

The only way to take out the hairs is to drip melted candle wax into the affected area and the wax may be peeled off when it has hardened.The rest of the plant is safe (i.e. leaves, stem and petals). 

The vine, if properly grown will reward the gardener with lots of flowers. The vine starts off at the shaded portion of the garden and will search for a tree to climb. As the plant ramifies through the exposed branches of the trees, they produce many dangling inflorescences.

Some Filipino plant enthusiasts are currently growing this species for conservation and commercial purposes.