Common Name:

General Information

Callerya atropurpurea is an evergreen tree with a dense, dome-like crown; it can grow from 5 - 30 metres tall. The usually cylindrical bole is fairly slender, it can be free of branches for around 13 metres with steep buttresses 150 - 300cm high, 20cm thick and 40 - 60cm out from the tree[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber and is used as an insecticide.

Known Hazards

The twigs and roots are used locally to stupefy fish[].
Millettia and related species in general contain a range of toxic substances, especially isoflavones. Rotenone is probably the best known of these isoflavones and it is found especially in the seeds and roots of the plants. Rotenone is often used locally as a fish poison - the rotenone kills or stuns the fish making them easy to catch, but the fish remain perfectly safe for warm-blooded creatures to eat. 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 also to 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.
Millettia species often also contain other potentially toxic compounds, especially saponins and alkaloids[].

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Open country[]. Evergreen forest, or felled, disturbed, or strongly cut-out forest or along roadsides, on (steep) hillsides; at elevations up to 1,200 metres[]. Poor, stony, laterite soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows on poor soils in the wild[]. Found wild on clay and limestone soils[].
The tree is slow to establish, but then grows quite rapidly[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

The tender young leaves are said to be eaten[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The twigs and roots contain rotenone, the active ingredient in the insecticide derris[, ].

A red resin is obtained from the tree[]. It oozes from points of damage on the trunk, but is slow to appear[].

The pale brown wood is heavy[, ]. It is suitable for medium construction under cover, interior finishing and panelling, furniture, flooring, packing boxes and crates and ornamental items[].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a container in a lightly shaded position. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Layering in spring.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with the leaves removed[].

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