Derris montana

Derris montana, commonly known as the mountain derris, is a versatile climbing shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its bioactive properties, this medicinal plant contains rotenoids, historically utilized for their insecticidal qualities. Today, it remains a subject of botanical interest for its potential applications in traditional pharmacology.

  • Scientific name: Derris montana
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and is a member of the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Derris.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Fabales WCVP
Family Fabaceae WCVP
Genus Derris WCVP

Common Names

This plant, scientifically known as Derris montana, is recognized in Chinese by the common name 异翅鱼藤 (yì chì yú téng).
Language Common Name Source
zh 异翅鱼藤 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the DR Congo. Its presence extends across Asia, where it grows in China Southeast and on the island of Hainan. The species is also situated within the Indian Subcontinent, notably in Bangladesh. Finally, its range reaches into Indo-China, particularly within the borders of Cambodia.

Region Area Source
West-Central Tropical Africa DR Congo WCVP
China Hainan WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh WCVP
Indo-China Cambodia WCVP
Indo-China Thailand WCVP
Malesia Borneo WCVP
Malesia Jawa WCVP
Malesia Malaya WCVP
Malesia Sulawesi WCVP