Derris scandens - Malay Jewelvine
❏ Binomial Name : Derris scandens (Roxb.)Benth.
❏ Synonym : Brachypterum scandens,Dalbergia timoriensis,Millettia litoralis
❏ Family : Leguminosae
❏ Common Name : Malay Jewelvine
❏ Tamil Name : Kodi punku
❏ Hindi Name : Gonj, Tup-bel
❏ IUCN Status : Not Evaluated
Derris scandens Botanical Description
Large climbing shrub; branchlets brown, lenticellate. Leaflets 5-11, 2-5 x 1-2.5 cm, elliptic, lanceolate or ovate-oblong, base rounded to cuneate, apex obtuse, acute, sometimes emarginate, subcoriaceous; lateral nerves 7-9 pairs, slender. Racemes axillary, 8-25 cm long, with flowers clustered on brown-pubescent rachis. Flowers 7-9 mm long; pedicels c. 4 mm long, slender. Calyx 2.5-3 mm long, shortly adpressed tomentose, lobes obscure. Petals pink or white; standard 7-8 mm long; ovate-orbicular. Stamens 10, alternate ones short. Pods 2.5-6.5 x 1-1.4 cm, oblong, narrowly winged on the upper suture, minutely adpressed tomentose, 2-4-seeded. Seeds c. 8 mm long, reniform, compressed, dark brown. Fl. &Fr.: June-December.
Derris scandens Medicinal uses
❀ The stems are diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant and laxative. They are used in the treatment of the common cold and backache
❀ Both stems and roots are used in the treatment of osteoarthritis
❀ The root is used to increase milk secretion after childbirth; it is crushed with or without water and the juice is given orally