Common Name:

General Information

Millettia pachycarpa is a climbing shrub with twining stems; it can grow up to about 15 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a pesticide and source of tying material.

Known Hazards

The roots and seeds are used locally to poison fish and birds, and possess considerable insecticidal activity[].
Millettia 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

E. Asia - China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Evergreen broad-leaved forests in valleys; at elevations from 100 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow best in a sunny position in a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is locally employed as a tonic and to treat swellings[].

Roots and seeds contain rotenone[]
The fruits and other aerial parts of the plant contain isoflavones[].

Other Uses

The bark fibre is used for making rough ropes[].

The seeds and roots contain rotenone. They are ground intoa powder that is used as an insecticide[, ].

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].

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