Mucuna macrocarpa
This is a very large climbing vine of the Family Fabaceae. It is an important part of the biomass of forest canopy ecological systems. More than 10 years are required for this plant to reach maturity and produce large amounts of pods. If you are able to observe and record this vine in the wild you are very fortunate, as it hangs from tree trunks high in the canopy. The flowers produced are thick and solid and have a very small angle of opening. This is not advantageous for large flying insects to act as pollinators. A Japanese scholar visiting Taiwan to study this plant set up an automated camera to record the pollination process. So, who are this plant's pollinators? The answer is provided in this online exhibition.
Classification
Family Fabaceae
Subfamily Faboideae
