Taxon: Derris trifoliata Lour.

Summary

Genus:

Derris

Family:

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)

Subfamily:

Faboideae

Tribe:

Millettieae

Nomen number:

13555

Place of publication:

Fl. cochinch. 2:433. 1790

Verified:

12/18/2012 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

4 (0 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Robinia uliginosa Willd.

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Deguelia trifoliata (Lour.) Taub.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Derris uliginosa (Willd.) Benth.
Pongamia uliginosa (Willd.) DC.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes. Note: mentions
Craib, W. G. & A. F. G. Kerr, eds. 1925-1962. Florae siamensis enumeratio.
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Du Puy, D. J. et al. 2002. The Leguminosae of Madagascar
Geesink, R. 1984. Scala Millettiearum. A survey of the genera of the tribe Millettieae (Legum.-Pap.) with methodological considerations. Leiden Bot. Ser. 8:91.
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
Huang, S. F. & T. C. Huang. 1987. Taxonomic treatment of the Papilionoideae (Leguminosae) of Taiwan. Taiwania 32:11-117.
Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
Matthew, K. M. 1983. The flora of the Tamilnadu Carnatic.
Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):241.
Robertson, S. A. 1989. Flowering plants of Seychelles
Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
Thothathri, K. 1982. Leguminosae: Genus - Derris. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 8:30.
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Verdcourt, B. 1979. A manual of New Guinea legumes.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	note	seq	Citation
English	three-leaf derris			1	Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Kenya			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Mozambique			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	KwaZulu-Natal		Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Madagascar			Du Puy, D. J. et al. 2002. The Leguminosae of Madagascar
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Seychelles			Robertson, S. A. 1989. Flowering plants of Seychelles
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Fujian Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangdong Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hainan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Ryukyu Islands		Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Taiwan			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Bangladesh			Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Andhra Pradesh		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Assam		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Goa		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Karnataka		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Kerala		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Maharashtra		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Meghalaya		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Odisha		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Tamil Nadu		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Tripura		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	West Bengal		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Sri Lanka			Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Cambodia			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	India	Andaman and Nicobar Islands		Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar			Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand			Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Vietnam			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Brunei Darussalam			Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Philippines			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Papuasia	Papua New Guinea			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Papuasia	Solomon Islands			Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Northern Territory	n.	Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Queensland	n.	Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1	Native	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	Micronesia			Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	Palau			Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	United States	Guam		Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Fiji			Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	New Caledonia			Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Samoa			Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Tonga			Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.

Native
Africa

EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Mozambique
SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa [KwaZulu-Natal]
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar, Seychelles

Asia-Temperate

CHINA: China [Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Hainan Sheng]
EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Ryukyu Islands], Taiwan

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Bangladesh, India [Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, Karnataka, Goa], Sri Lanka
PAPUASIA: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
INDO-CHINA: India [Andaman and Nicobar Islands], Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
MALESIA: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland (n.), Northern Territory (n.)]

Pacific

NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Micronesia, Palau, United States [Guam]
SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa

Reference(s)

Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Du Puy, D. J. et al. 2002. The Leguminosae of Madagascar
Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
Lock, J. M. & C. S. Ford. 2004. Legumes of Malesia: a checklist
Robertson, S. A. 1989. Flowering plants of Seychelles
Sirichamorn, Y. et al. 2012. The genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand. Syst. Bot. 37:428-430. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Reference
Materials	fiber	Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Medicines	folklore	Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):241.
Vertebrate poisons	fish	Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):241.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=13555. Accessed 12 May 2026.