Millettia extensa (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Millettia extensa (Benth.) Benth. ex Baker

Protologue: Fl. Brit. India 2: 108 (1876).

Family: Leguminosae

Synonyms

• Otosema extensa Benth. (1852),
• Millettia auriculata Baker ex Brandis (1874).

Vernacular names

• Thailand: kwaao khruea (northern).

Distribution

From India eastward to Burma (Myanmar), Thailand and Indo-China.

Uses

The root is used as a fish poison and credited with insect repellent properties. The root bark is given daily for 5 days following menstruation as an anticonceptive. An infusion of powdered roots is rubbed on cattle and horses to keep off flies. The root is used to kill maggots in cattle sores. Leaves and twigs are used for cattle fodder.

Observations

• A sub-erect shrub or more often a liana up to 20 m in length with glabrescent stems up to 25 cm in diameter.
• Leaves very variable, petiole 15-40 cm long, stipules oblong, 7 mm long, persistent, leaflets 7-9, oblong to obovate, 6-16 cm long, base obtuse to cordate, apex acuminate or mucronate.
• Inflorescence an axillary pseudopanicle, 10-30 cm long.
• Flowers in groups of 2-4, calyx 3 mm long, shortly dentate; corolla yellowish green to pink, standard orbicular, stamens monadelphous, ovary superior, 8-ovuled.
• Pod strap-shaped, 15 cm × 2-3 cm, thin-walled, glabrescent, 8-seeded.
• Seed 1.5 cm × 1 cm, black.

M. extensa is found in relatively open forest including semi-deciduous forest up to 1200 m altitude.

Selected sources

• [215] Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948—1976. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials & industrial products. 11 volumes. Publications and Information Directorate, New Delhi, India.
• [331] Gagnepain, F. (Editor), 1907—1950. Flore générale de l'Indo-Chine [General flora of Indo-China]. 7 volumes + suppl. Masson & Cie, Paris, France.

Main genus page

• Millettia

Authors

• J.L.C.H. van Valkenburg