Common Name:

General Information

Millettia versicolor is an erect shrub or tree with a globular crown; it can can vary in size from 60cm up to 20 metres, occasionally even up to 30 metres. The bole can be up to 60cm in diameter[]
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of timber. It is occasionally planted as an ornamental shade tree[].

Known Hazards

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

Tropical Africa - Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, Angola.

Habitat

Not uncommon in bushy places at the skirts of primitive forests; occurring in rather dry situations; gallery forest; secondary forests; dry forests; savannahs with regrowths[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow best in a sunny position in a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil[].
The plant can flower throughout the year[].
Long stem-cuttings planted in the ground often take root and may develop into shrubs or trees. This may be the origin of some forest or shrub patches in savannah areas[].
Fences made of poles in former villages may have developed first into Millettia versicolor regrowth and subsequently into forest through colonization by other tree species[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A root decoction is used to treat kidney complaints and cough, and also serves against sterility and impotence[].

Root, leaf and bark decoctions are taken in small amounts against intestinal worms[].

The leaves are used as a treatment against malaria[].
The leaves are used in vapour baths or applied externally in order to relieve pain[]. A leaf decoction is used in a bath to treat syphilis[].

A methanol extract of the bark showed anti-inflammatory activity, with 2-acetyl-7-methoxy-naphthofuran-4,9-dione as active compound[].
Leaf extracts exhibited moderate antiplasmodial activity that could be due to the rotenoid usararotenoid C[].
The anthelmintic effect of the roots has been demonstrated in clinical trials in DR Congo, supporting their use in traditional medicine. Extracts with anthelminthic activity contained the triterpenes lupeol, taraxasterol and β-amyrine[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Poles are used to establish living fences[].

Other Uses

The inner bark is generally made available for ties in the construction of traditional huts[]

The heartwood is golden brown to blackish brown. The wood is strong, durable and resistant to insect attack. It can be polished to a smooth surface and turns well. It is resistant to insect attack. The wood is justly reputed as one of the most beautiful, it is locally used for furniture, sculpture and implements. It is valued as durable building material, especially for posts, but is occasionally also used for planks and joinery[, ]. So strong is this wood that native people often employ it instead of iron nails to pin chests together and other domestic utensils[].
The wood is suitable for charcoal production[].

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[].
Cuttings[]. Long stems can be planted direct into the ground. In a test, 64% of the stem cuttings sprouted after planting[].

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