Derris
Family Leguminosae: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae)
Derris elliptica, derris (D. elliptica 1), is a perennial climber, up to 15 m in length, with alternate compound pinnate leaves and small pinkish flowers in axillary racemes. The pods are flattened, about 5 cm long, brown, containing 1-4 seeds. The roots contain toxic retonoids, of which the most important is retenone.
Distribution and use
Derris grows wild from India to New Guinea and is now under small-scale cultivation in many tropical countries for the roots. Powdered root is in use as a remedy against lice since time immemorial and as a fish poison in Southeast Asia. Around 1900 derris was introduced into Europe and the US as an insecticide.