Deguelia

/ˌdeɡuˈeɪliə/ noun

Definition

A tropical South American plant of the Leguminosae family, also known as timbó, used as an insecticide and fish poison.

Etymology

From Portuguese or Spanish origin, borrowed from indigenous South American languages. The word traveled through colonial trade routes as Europeans discovered the plant's properties in the Amazon region.

Kelly Says

This plant contains natural rotenone compounds that indigenous peoples used for hunting—it's essentially a natural pesticide that's now manufactured synthetically for organic farming!

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