This large climbing plant comes from the rainforest of the province Bengkulu, on the west coast of Sumatra. The plant can grow about 20 metres tall there and blooms with clusters of purple flowers. After pollination, the flowers are followed by unusual pods with many protuberances and brown, irritating hairs. Each contains 3 or 4 beautiful, black seeds. These are about 2 cm in size, have a hilum about 5 cm long and a flattened side. The identification of this species is uncertain. The species resembles existing Mucuna species, such as M. platyphylla, M. tomentosa and M. stenoplax, but the characteristics do not completely match. Hence, we tentatively call it Mucuna sp. 'Bengkulu'.
The species can be kept as a houseplant, where pruning is quite possible. Provide a rack or string for guidance and a light location without much sunlight. As a substrate, you can take an organic, well-drained mixture and keep it constantly slightly moist.
Sowing description: Scarify the seed in 1 spot with sandpaper until a colour difference is visible. Then soak in water for 24 hours and sow in sowing soil at 25-30grC. Keep soil constantly slightly moist. Germination can follow as long as the seed is hard.
