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Project Noah Nature School
Mucuna sp. possibly M. poggei
These fuzzy pods were growing on a vine on a wire fence. The pods contain several seeds which look like they are already germinating inside the pods. The fine red hairs on the pods were very urticating, both itchy and painful and difficult to remove. They are called Velvet Beans.
Km 23, Minatitlán-Cordoba Highway, Veracruz, Mexico.
If you see these pods, don't touch them with your bare hands.
Thank you Jason and Anna for the identification. These look closest to M. poggei in the pictures. Neither M. poggei or M. pruriens are listed for Mexico, although they both occur in the Caribbean Islands and could very well be along the gulf coast of Mexico.
I've touched them! Yeah, you're right! The tiny red hairs were painful and very difficult to remove from my hands. We must pick them up manually.. Nice spotting!
Spotted on Feb 17, 2013
Submitted on Mar 11, 2013
