Rusty-leaf Muuna Vine Flower 野生血藤花

Posted by on Apr 4, 2012 in blog, Nature, Taiwan, Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Large-fruit Mucuna Flower, Mucuna macrocarpa Wall.,
Rusty-leaf Muunai Flower in Namasia , Kaohsiung, Taiwan

 

My wife called me over to have a look at this flower, a 野生血藤花. This vine, a Rusty-leaf Muuna or Large-fruit Mucuna (Mucuna macrocarpa Wall.) grows liberally everywhere in Namasia, so much that it will strangle all our fruit trees if a constant vigil is not kept.

Large-fruit Mucuna Flower, Mucuna macrocarpa Wall.,
Rusty-leaf Muunai blooms in Namasia , Kaohsiung, Taiwan

 

I had never seen them flower, nor had my wife! So I spent some time taking pictures of the interesting blooms.

Large-fruit Mucuna Flower, Mucuna macrocarpa Wall.,
Flowering Rusty-leaf Muunai in Namasia , Kaohsiung, Taiwan

 

The vines are very useful. When they are living they are malleable and as they dry, they harden into whatever shape is needed. The vines are also used as a Chinese medicinal herb.

Large-fruit Mucuna Flower, Mucuna macrocarpa Wall.,
Rusty-leaf Muunai bloom in Namasia , Kaohsiung, Taiwan

 

We once spent a day playing Tarzan — swinging from these vines in the jungle near ErXi Mountain in Namasia. The vines are attached to the jungle canopy many meters in the air and in the right spots one can make very exciting swings.

Large-fruit Mucuna Flower, Mucuna macrocarpa Wall.,
Flowering Rusty-leaf Muunai in Namasia , Kaohsiung, Taiwan