708

Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth.

Synonym	:	Brachypterum scandens (Roxb.)Wight
Family	:	Leguminosae
Local name	:	Malayalam- Panivalli
Flowering and fruiting period	:	June-December
Distribution		Indo-Malesia
Distribution in Kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Deciduous forests, also in mangrove forests and sacred groves
Uses	:	Its dried stem has been used as an expectorant, antitussive, diuretic, and anti-dysentery agent and for the treatment of muscle
IUCN status	:	Least concerned
Key botanical Characters: Large climbing shrubs; branchlets brown, lenticellate. Leaflets lanceolate or ovate-oblong, apex obtuse, acute, sometimes emarginate, and base rounded to cuneate, subcoriaceous; Racemes axillary, with flowers clustered on brown- pubescent rachis. Flowers 7-9 mm long; 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. Oblong, narrowly winged on the upper suture, minutely adpressed tomentose; seeds 2-4 ca. 8 mm long, reniform, compressed, dark brown.