Derris trifoliata Lour.

Taxonomic Classification

Derris trifoliata is a flowering plant species belonging to the legume family Fabaceae.

Indian Common Names

It is common across India, where it has many regional common names: Angaar valli in Sanskrit; Karanjvel in Marathi; Firta in Konkani; Tigekranugu, Nauatige, and Chirathelathige in Telugu; Ketia and Swanlata in Oria; Kammattivalli and Ponumvalli in Malayalam; Kaliya lata (also spelled Kalilata) and Panlata in Bengali; and Panlata in Hindi.

Southeast Asian Common Names

It is also common across multiple regions of Southeast Asia, with additional regional common names including Asiasimanan in Filipino Tagalog; Tuwa areuy in Indonesian Sundanese; Akar Ketuil, Ketui, Setui, Salang, Tuba bekut, or Sea Tuba in Peninsular Malaysian; Phak thaep in central Thai; and Cc Kn Nc (Cosc Kesn Nuwowsc) in Vietnamese.

Growth Form and Habitat

This species is a large climber that grows commonly in the coastal swamps of tropical coastal areas of Southeast Asia.

Size

Individuals typically reach 3–5 meters in length.

Leaf Structure

Its leaves are alternate, pinnate, and measure 12–20 cm total; it bears 5 ovate leaflets per leaf, each 6–10 cm long, with acuminate tips and rounded bases.

Flower Characteristics

Its flowers are 1 cm across, arranged in axillary racemes 8–15 cm long.

Pod Characteristics

Its pods are 3–4 cm long, flat, and pale yellow in color.

Stem Isolate

The rotenoid 6aα,12aα-12a-hydroxyelliptone can be isolated from the stems of D. trifoliata.

Rotenone Discovery Background

In 1902, Kazuo Nagai, a Japanese chemical engineer working for the Government-General of Taiwan, isolated a pure crystalline compound from a closely related plant, possibly Derris elliptica.

Rotenone Etymology

He named this compound rotenone, after the Taiwanese name of the plant 蘆藤 (pronounced lôo-tîn in Min Nan Chinese), which was translated to Japanese as rōten (ローテン).

Plant Toxicity

The pods, roots, and stems of Derris trifoliata are rich in toxic rotenoids.

Human Uses and Risks

The plant is commonly used to produce insecticides, piscicides, and other pesticides, and suicide attempts or accidental ingestion have sometimes caused human illness or death.

Larval Host Plant

The larvae of the butterfly Hasora hurama feed on D. trifoliata.