Aganope heptaphylla

(L.) Polhill

Fabaceae Edible: Leaves, Leaves - flavouring, Caution Potential hazards — see below 8 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A climbing shrub. The stems are twining. It grows 3-15 m long. The leaves are compound with 5-7 leaflets. These are 3-20 cm long by 1.4-13 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a flavouring.

Traditional Uses

Caution: It contains low levels of rotenone used as a fish poison.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

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.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rain forest and along streams and swamps. It can be near mangrove swamps. It grows up to 120 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Andaman Islands, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Northeastern India, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand,

Other Uses

The plant contains rotenone, which is widely used as an insecticide. 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.. 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.

Synonyms

Aspalathus arborea Lour.Deguelia heptaphylla (L.) S. F. BlakeDeguelia sinuata (Thwaites) Taub.Derris diadelpha (Blanco) Merr.Derris exserta CraibDerris heptaphylla (L.) Merr.Derris macroloba Miq.Derris sinuata ThwaitesPterocarpus diadelphous BlancoSophora heptaphylla L.and others