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Derris trifoliata Lour.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Derris uliginosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Benth. |
| Common Name: | Common Derris, Ketui, Salang, Selang, Setui, 鱼藤 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 15 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | In coastal mangrove forests from east Africa to subtropical and tropical Asia (including Singapore), to Australia. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Shoreline (Mangrove Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an erect shrub up to 2 m tall, or a woody climber up to 15 m long. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its stalked, pinnate leaves consist of 3–7 leaflets. Its opposite, stalked leaflets have leathery leaf blades that are egg- to lance-shaped or oval, and 3–18 by 1.5–9 cm, with gradually, narrowing tips. |
| Flowers | Its flowers are about 9–12 mm long, with cream-white to lavender or pinkish petals. The few to numerous flowers are clustered on the side branches of its flowering shoots. These shoots develop from the leaf axils, or the ends of leafy twigs. |
| Fruit | Its disc-like fruits are 1 or 2-seeded, 3–5.5 by 2–3.7 cm, rounded on the lower side, and narrowly winged on the upper side. Its brown seeds are compressed, wrinkled, kidney-shaped, and 1.5–2.4 by 1–2 cm. |
| Habitat | It grows in mangrove forests. It occurs locally in Sembawang, the Western Catchment area, Pulau Ubin, and Pulau Tekong. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. It is also the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the dark caerulean butterfly (Jamides bochus nabonassar), the adult of which lays its eggs in the space between the flower buds, or in the spaces between the flower stalks and the axis of the flowering shoot. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek derris, a leather covering, possibly referring to the tough seed pods; Latin trifoliata, with 3 leaves, referring to the species’ leaflets. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: The plant has horticultural potential for its attractive pea-like flowers, and coin-like fruits. The leaves are sometimes fed to cattle and other livestock. The plant is used medicinally, and as fish poison. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It may be suitable for parks, growing over trellises or pergolas. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline, Vertical Greenery / Green Wall |
| Thematic Landscaping | Butterfly Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Host Plant (Leaves) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Insects (Bee), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31485 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5882 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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