Tephrosia vogelii
Tephrosia vogelii
Safety & Hazards
The plant contains rotenonoids and has been used traditionally as a fish poison - rotenoids kill or stun the fish making them easy to catch, but the fish remain perfectly edible for mammals. Rotenonoids are classified by the World Health Organization as moderately hazardous. They are mildly toxic to humans and other mammals, but extremely toxic to many insects (hence their use as an insecticide) and aquatic life, including fish. This higher toxicity in fish and insects is because the lipophilic rotenonoid is easily taken up through the gills or trachea, but not as easily through the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg, but human deaths from rotenone poisoning are rare because its irritating action causes vomiting. Deliberate ingestion of rotenone, however, can be fatal. The compound decomposes when exposed to sunlight and usually has an activity of six days in the environment.
Cultivation Details
A plant of tropical regions, where it is found at elevations from sea level up to 2,100 metres[1]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 28°c, but can tolerate 10 - 32°c[2]. The plant can survive temperatures down to about -1°c[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 870 - 2,700mm[2]. Prefers a sunny position, tolerating light shade[2]. Grows well on andosols that are not subject to flooding and on well drained loams[1]. Tolerant of poor soils, though it grows more slowly and is more prone to diseases[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[2]. Established plants are drought tolerant[1]. Tolerant of strong winds[1]. Under favourable conditions, the plant grows quickly and is tolerant of repeated pruning[1]. It can reach a height of 2 - 3 metres in just 7 months[2]. A short-lived plant, sometimes (as in Java) only living for a little more than one year[1, 2]. Plants can flower and produce seeds all year round[2]. Plants are quite tolerant of fire, usually resprouting readily afterwards due to its deep root system[1]. If the plants are weakly branched, they should be lopped to promote branching[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[3].
Propagation
Seed - preferably, fresh seed should be stored for 2 months before planting[1]. Pre-soaking the seed for 12 - 24 hours in warm water (45°c) improves germination[1]. Without treatment, the germination percentage is 65%, and the seedling survival rate about 60%[1]. The seed stores well with no loss in viability over 2 - 3 years in open storage[1]. Air-dried seed can be stored in sealed containers for at least 1.5 years[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tephrosia+vogelii>
Pollinators
Bees, Self
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [4]The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation — Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. · University of Wisconsin · 1981 · ISBN 0-333-32221-5 ↩︎An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
- [5]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.