Changes

''Mucuna gigantea'' seeds contain 1.7–2% L-dopa (levodopa; L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), an amino acid which stimulates the formation of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Dopamine lessens tremor experienced in Parkinson’s disease. However, opinions differ on the side effects and efficacy in the long run of L-dopa. Because of the presence of toxic compounds in the plant, it seems advisable to eat the seed only after prolonged soaking and boiling.

Large liana up to 30(–80) m long; stems initially covered with orange-brown bristle hairs, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, 3-foliolate; stipules 3–5 mm × 1 mm, deciduous; petiole 4–15 cm long, rachis 1.5–3.5 cm long; stipels needle-shaped, 2–3 mm long, persistent; petiolules c. 5 mm long; leaflets ovate or elliptical, 4–15 cm × 2–9 cm, the lateral ones oblique, acuminate and markedly apiculate at apex, rounded at base, thinly appressed hairy when young, soon glabrescent. Inflorescence an axillary, pendulous false umbel 10–35 cm long, with flowers on short lateral branchlets 5–10 mm long; peduncle 4–22(–30) cm long. Flowers bisexual, papilionaceous; pedicel 1–2.5 cm long; calyx cup-shaped, 10–13 mm long, 2-lipped, covered with fine grey hairs and long deciduous orange-brown bristle hairs, tube 7–11 mm long, lobes 2–3 mm long, the upper lip somewhat emarginate; corolla pale creamy-green, white or pale lilac, standard (2–)2.5–3.5 cm × (1.5–)2–2.5 cm, round, with sparse orange-brown bristle hairs, wings and keel (3–)3.5–4.5 cm long; stamens 10, 9 united and 1 free; ovary superior, 1-celled, style long, filiform, stigma small and terminal. Fruit a stiped pod, oblong or oblong-elliptical, 7–15 cm × 3–5.5(–6.5) cm × 1–2 cm, each margin with 2 wings, densely covered with orange-brown bristle hairs at first, becoming glabrous at maturity, 1–4(–6)-seeded. Seeds 2.5–3 cm × 2–3 cm × 1–1.5 cm, discoid, dark brown or densely mottled with rust brown or black, smooth, hilum extending around the seed-margin for c. three-quarters of the circumference. Seedling with hypogeal germination; first leaves scale-like or simple.