Systematics and biogeography of Aganope, Brachypterum and Derris (Fabaceae) in Asia

Derris Lour. (family Fabaceae/tribe Millettieae) is a quite well-known legume genus as many species are a source of Rotenone toxin, a commercial organic insecticide and fish poison used in many countries. The genus is characterized mainly by its indehiscent, flat, thin but leathery pods with usually wing(s) along the suture(s). In the tribe Millettieae, however, there are several plants in the tropical areas of the old and new world which have similar pods and other morphological characters comparable to Derris. They all are called Derris-like taxa (or Derris-like plants) in this thesis. In the course of time, different generic circumscriptions of these plants were proposed by various taxonomists. The main objectives of this thesis are to clarify the relationships between species and genera within this complex group of Derris-like taxa [mainly focused on the old-world Asian genera: Aganope, Brachypterum and Derris (+Paraderris)] and to provide a new classification which reflects the evolutionary and biogeographic relationships of these plants.