''Gliricidia'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

legume A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock f ...

family,

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

and tribe

Robinieae The tribe Robinieae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae and the currently unranked taxon Robinioids. The following genera are recognized by the USDA: * '' Coursetia'' DC. 1825 * '' Genistidium'' I. M. Johnst. 1941 * ''G ...

. Its native range is Mexico to Peru, but ''

Gliricidia sepium ''Gliricidia sepium'', often simply referred to as its genus name '' Gliricidia'', is a medium size leguminous tree belonging to the family Fabaceae. Common names include quickstick, ''mata ratón''; ''cacao de nance'', ''cachanance''; ''balo'' ...

'' has been widely introduced to other tropical zones. The species ''G. sepium'' is a small, deciduous, ornamental tree, cultivated and used for a variety of purposes in tropical regions. The genus name ''Gliricidia'' means "mouse killer" in reference to the traditional use of the toxic seeds and bark of ''G. sepium'' as

rodenticide Rodenticides are chemicals made and sold for the purpose of killing rodents. While commonly referred to as "rat poison", rodenticides are also used to kill mice, squirrels, woodchucks, chipmunks, porcupines, nutria, beavers, and voles. Despi ...

s. The tree is leafless when in flower and bears fruits during April and May in India and countries with same climate. The small flowers (barely 2 cm long) are pale pink and they are borne in dense clusters on bare twigs. Flowers fade to white or a faint purple with age. The flowers attract a lot of bees and some lycaenid butterflies—particularly the Peablue ''

Lampides boeticus ''Lampides boeticus'', the pea blue, or long-tailed blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or gossamer-winged family. Etymology The Latin species name ''boeticus'' refers to Baetica, a province of the Roman Empire in the Iber ...

'' and other native birds.

Species

The following species are valid: *'' Gliricidia brenningii'' (Harms) Lavin *'' Gliricidia ehrenbergii'' (Schltdl.) Rydb. *'' Gliricidia maculata'' (H. B. K.) Steud. *'' Gliricidia robustum'' (M. Sousa & Lavin) Lavin *''

'' (Jacq.) Steud.

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q12549487 Robinieae Fabaceae genera