Kiwach / Velvet Bean
Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens
Also known as Common Cow Itch, Cowhage
- Habit
- Liana
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Assam, Manipur & more
- Flowering
- September-March
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens
- Genus
- Mucuna
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Habit
- Liana
- Habitat
- In secondary forests at lower altitudes and in plains
- Habitat type
- Forest
- Native to
- India
- Distribution
- Himalayas, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Assam, Manipur, West Bengal
- Flowering & fruiting
- September-March
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Typical of the Fabaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
Typical of the Fabaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- Kiwach
- Nepali
- काउसे सिमी Kaause Simee
- Bengali
- Akolchi
- Telugu
- Pilliadugu
- Kannada
- ನಸುಗುನ್ನಿ Nasugunni, ನೊಸಗೊನ್ನೆ Nosagonne, ನಾಯಿಸೊಣಗುಬಳ್ಳಿ Nayisonanguballi
- Malayalam
- Naicorna
- Marathi
- खाज कुइरी Khaj-kuiri
About Kiwach
Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens) is a liana belonging to the Fabaceae family (Legume/Bean family). Members of this family are generally characterised by alternate pinnate/trifoliate leaves, raceme/panicle/head flower clusters, pod/legume fruit. It is typically found in in secondary forests at lower altitudes and in plains. It is native to India. Flowering and fruiting are typically seen during September-March.
Fabaceae
Legume/Bean family
Kiwach belongs to the Fabaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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