Millettia usaramensis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Genus: | Millettia |
Species: | M. usaramensis |
Binomial name | |
Millettia usaramensis Taub |
Millettia usaramensis is a tree or shrub belonging to the family Fabaceae. It has two known subspescies namely, Millettia usaramensis subsp. australis and ''Millettia usaramensis subsp. usaramensis.[1]
The species that can grow up to 10 m in height but commonly about 7 m in height, the bark is greyish in color.[2] Leaves have about 4-8 pairs of opposite leaflets with a terminal leaflet; leaflets are 2–7 cm long and 1.5-3.5 cm wide with a glabrous surface below,[2] blade is lanceolate to ovate.[2] Flowers are mauve to purple while the fruit is an oblong pod.[2]
Compounds from the chemical class, rotenoids have been isolated from the leaves and stem bark extracts of the species.[3] The compound, Barbigerone has been isolated from root extracts of the plant.[2]
Root extracts of the plant are traditionally used as an antidotes for snake bites.[2]