 Mucuna elliptica
The Thick-Banded Mucuna
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Mucuna elliptica
The Thick-Banded Mucuna
Return to main page for Mucuna elliptica
A 
stipel is a secondary 
stipule situated at the base of the 
petiolules of the 
leaflets of a compound leaf.
Note that the very similar species, 
Mucuna pseudoelliptica lacks stipels.
In 
Mucuna spp., the leaves are trifoliate, i.e., there are 3 
leaflets (2 paired, 1 unpaired) comprising each 
leaf.
Below are images of the base of the paired and unpaired 
leaflets, showing the 
stipels at the base of each 
petiolule of each leaflet.
Each photo is "clickable" to view a higher resolution image.

Base of the unpaired leaflet of 
Mucuna elliptica, showing presence of stipels.

Base of the paired leaflets of 
Mucuna elliptica, showing presence of stipels.