Gallery
Derris — Climbing plantDerris — Plant
Derris — Plant (glasshouse)
Derris — Young leaf
Derris — Leaves
Derris — Branch & leavesDerris — Climbing plantDerris — Plant1 / 6
Overview
Derris elliptica is a woody climber whose roots contain rotenone, an isoflavonoid toxic to fish and many insects but fast-degrading in the environment. Ground roots were thus used as a botanical insecticide and for traditional fishing.
Life cycle
From seed to productStem cutting
Propagated by **stem cuttings**: take 10–15 cm semi-hardwood cuttings with 2–3 nodes and insert them in moist sand or soil in shade.
Rooting
Cuttings root within 2–4 weeks and new shoots break from the nodes.
Growth & flowering
The plant blooms with **pale pink pea-like flowers, May–July**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Maturity & harvest
Foliage dies back and reserves move into the underground storage organ; **3–4-year-old roots dug in autumn–winter**.
Uses
- Botanical insecticide from roots
- Traditional fishing (restricted)
Properties
- Used part
- Root
- Active compound
- Rotenone
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Derris elliptica (Wall.) Benth. — Kew Science, 2026
- 2Derris elliptica — mô tả, rotenone, sử dụng làm thuốc cá — English Wikipedia, 2026
- 3Cây thuốc cá — đặc điểm, độc tính, công dụng — Vietnamese Wikipedia, 2026
- 4Nguồn ảnh: Forest & Kim Starr (CC BY 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons,
- 5Nguồn ảnh: James Steakley (CC BY-SA 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenra (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons,