- 9 - 
All the plants listed in tablv,s 1 and 2 and the first three in 
table 3 are definitely of the family Leguminosae. In the literature there 
appear references to the presence of rotenone or rotenoids in three plant 
specimens reported to be of other plant families. However, an examination 
of these cases shows that these statements may be doubted. Pfaff (38) 
reported the presence of timboin in Brazilian timbo. Timboin was probably 
similar to the derrid of Greshoff (13), an impure substance that contained 
a large proportion of rotenone. Pfaff thought the plant material might be 
Paullinia pinnat a L. (Sapindaceae) , but in view of our present knowledge of 
timbo it is very likely that the plant was a species of Lonchocarp us, pos- 
sibly L. urucu. Subsequent references to Pa ullinia pinnat a as a rotenone- 
containing plant have been based either on Pfaff 's work or on the confusion 
in the identification of Brazilian timbo root. Roark (39) stated that 
rotenone or related compounds had been found in Polygonum (?) sp. According 
to the records of this Division (52), the identity of this sample, of which 
only the roots were available, was very doubtful, and it cannot be considered 
definitely of the family Polygonaceac. Recently Scarone (44) stated that 
"of numerous plants of the family Bromeliaceae in particular Tillan dria 
us noides L, [Tillandsia usneoides L.] contains rotenone," The statement 
is not accompanied by experimental evidence, and no other reference to the 
rotenone content of this plant has been found. In view of these facts the 
presence of rotenone or rotenoids in these three species of plants may well 
be questioned unless substantiated by further work on authentic specimens. 
Although it cannot be stated categorically that rotenone and rotenoids 
occur only in plants of the family Leguminosae, the preponderance of evidence 
at the present time indicates that this may be the case. 
SUMMARY 
Rotenone or rotenoids have definitely been reported in 67 species of 
leguminous plants. Most of these belong to the tribes Galegeae and Dal- 
bergieae. The genera Millettia, T ephrosia , D erris , and Lon choc arpus are 
represented by the largest numbers of species. 
From the evidence now at hand it appears possible that rotenone 
and rotenoids are present only in plants of the family Leguminosae, and 
may be confined to the subfamily Papilionatae. 
LITERATURE CITED 
1. BLACKIE, W. J. 
1932. Derris uliginosa. Agr. Jour. Fiji 5(1): 34-5. 
2. CASTAGNE, E. 
1938. Contribution a 1' etude chimique des legumineuses insecti- 
cides du Congo Beige. Inst. Roy. Colon. Beige, Memoires, 
Collection in Octavo, Vol. 6, no. 3. 102 pp. 
3. CHEVALIER, J., and CHEVALIER, M. 
1937. Les plantes a rotenone. Derris, Cube, Timbo. Bull. Sci. 
Pharmacol. 44: 223-41. 
