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Useful Tropical Plants

Aganope heptaphylla

(L.) Polhill

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Deguelia sinuata (Thwaites) Taub.

Derris diadelpha (Blanco) Merr.

Derris exserta Craib

Derris heptaphylla (L.) Merr.

Derris macroloba Miq.

Derris sinuata Thwaites

Pterocarpus diadelphous Blanco

Pterocarpus diadelphus Blanco

Sophora heptaphylla L.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Aganope heptaphylla is a climbing shrub with twining stems[
1414
Title
The Genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand
Publication
Systematic Botany (2012) 37(2) pp 404-436
Author
Sirichamorn Y.; Adema F.A.C.B.; & van Welzen P.C.
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
 
Description
 
]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It contains the insecticide rotenone, though in lower concentrations than several other species and so probably only suitable for local use as an insecticide.

Known Hazards

The plant contains rotenone and has been used traditionally as a fish poison - the rotenone kills or stuns the fish making them easy to catch, but the fish remain perfectly edible for mammals. Rotenone is classified by the World Health Organization as moderately hazardous. It is mildly toxic to humans and other mammals, but extremely toxic to many insects (hence its use as an insecticide) and aquatic life, including fish. This higher toxicity in fish and insects is because the lipophilic rotenone is easily taken up through the gills or trachea, but not as easily through the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg, but human deaths from rotenone poisoning are rare because its irritating action causes vomiting. Deliberate ingestion of rotenone, however, can be fatal.
The compound decomposes when exposed to sunlight and usually has an activity of six days in the environment.

Botanical References

1414
Title
The Genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand
Publication
Systematic Botany (2012) 37(2) pp 404-436
Author
Sirichamorn Y.; Adema F.A.C.B.; & van Welzen P.C.
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

E. Asia - Sri Lanla, northeast India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to New Guinea and northern Australia

Habitat

Primary and secondary (dipterocarp) rain forest, often along rivers, swamps, mangrove forest, seashore and rocky sea cliffs; at elevations up to 120 metres[
1414
Title
The Genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand
Publication
Systematic Botany (2012) 37(2) pp 404-436
Author
Sirichamorn Y.; Adema F.A.C.B.; & van Welzen P.C.
Publisher
 
Year
2012
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitClimber
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
]. Also used as a culinary flavouring[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant contains rotenone, which is widely used as an insecticide[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Rotenone is effective against a range of horticultural pests, such as aphids and caterpillars, and also against external body parasites like ticks, lice, fleas and flies. It is reported to be ineffective against bedbugs, cockroaches, scale insects and red spiders.[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. The rotenone can be found in various parts of the plant, but is generally most abundant in the bark, especially of the roots. The bark can be dried and powdered for use as an insecticidal dust[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Aganope+heptaphylla>

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