''Gliricidia'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

legume Legumes are plants in the pea family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consum ...

family,

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

and tribe

Robinieae The tribe Robinieae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae and the currently unranked taxon Robinioids. The following genera are recognized by the USDA: * ''Coursetia'' DC. 1825 * '' Genistidium'' I. M. Johnst. 1941 * '' Gliric ...

. Its native range is Mexico to Peru, but '' Gliricidia sepium'' has been widely introduced to other tropical zones. The species ''G. sepium'' is a small, deciduous, ornamental tree, cultivated and used for a variety of purposes in tropical regions. The genus name ''Gliricidia'' means "mouse killer" in reference to the traditional use of the toxic seeds and bark of ''G. sepium'' as

rodenticide Rodenticides are chemicals made and sold for the purpose of killing rodents. While commonly referred to as "rat poison", rodenticides are also used to kill mice, woodchucks, chipmunks, porcupines, nutria, beavers, and voles. Some rodenticides ...

s. The tree is leafless when in flower and bears fruits during April and May in India and countries with same climate. The small flowers (barely 2 cm long) are pale pink and they are borne in dense clusters on bare twigs. Flowers fade to white or a faint purple with age. The flowers attract a lot of bees and some lycaenid butterflies—particularly the Peablue '' Lampides boeticus'' and other native birds.

Species

The following species are accepted: *'' Gliricidia brenningii'' (Harms) Lavin *'' Gliricidia ehrenbergii'' (Schltdl.) Rydb. *'' Gliricidia maculata'' (Kunth) Steud. *'' Gliricidia robusta'' (M.Sousa & Lavin) Lavin *'' Gliricidia sepium'' (Jacq.) Kunth

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Robinieae Fabaceae genera Flora of the Neotropical realm Taxa named by Carl Sigismund Kunth