''Derris'' is
genus of leguminous plants found in
Southeast Asia and the southwest Pacific islands, including
New Guinea. The roots of ''
D. elliptica'' contain
rotenone, a strong
insecticide
Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed to b ...
and fish poison.
Despite the secondary compounds found in ''Derris'', they serve as food plants for many
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
n
larvae including ''
Batrachedra
''Batrachedra'' is the largest genus in the moth family Batrachedridae, with representatives all over the world. The early stages of most species are unknown. The genus name is derived from the Greek words ''batrachos'', 'frog', and ''edra'', ' ...
'' spp.
Selected species
''The Plant List''
The Plant List
/ref> includes the following:
* '' Derris cumingii''
* '' Derris elegans''
* ''Derris elliptica
''Derris eliptica'' is a species of leguminous plant from Southeast Asia and the southwest Pacific islands, including New Guinea. The roots of ''D. elliptica'' contain rotenone, a strong insecticide and fish poison.
Also known as ''derris p ...
''
* '' Derris ferruginea''
* '' Derris malaccensis''
* '' Derris marginata''
* '' Derris microphylla''
* '' Derris ovalifolia''
* '' Derris parviflora''
* '' Derris philippinensis''
* '' Derris polyantha''
* '' Derris robusta''
* '' Derris scandens''
* '' Derris trifoliata'', also known as the common derris
See also
* "Derris" insecticides based on rotenone
* '' Millettia pinnata'': ''D. indica'' is a synonym.
References
External links
*
*
Millettieae
Fabaceae genera
{{Millettieae-stub