Deguelia utilis aka Timbo

Deguelia utilis is an evergreen member of the pea family, Fabaceae. Its common names include barbasco, cube, timbo, and nicou. It comes from tropical South America. Its range includes Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas. It grows in dense rainforest and more open regrowth. Some stands remain from past planting, often near rivers.

Young plants form shrubs or small trees about 10 feet [3 metres] tall. Older plants tend to climb into nearby trees. Their stems can reach about 49 feet [15 metres] high. Plants For A Future gives both height and spread as 49 feet [15 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants describes that height as the reach of climbing stems. The plant keeps its leaves year-round and grows at a moderate rate. Insects pollinate its flowers. Some cultivated forms do not set seed. Long use of cuttings may help explain this lack of seed.

This plant suits warm, moist lowland sites with rain throughout the year. It grows in moderate sun or deep shade. In shade, its upper stems need access to more light. It prefers moist soil with good drainage. Loam and clay are suitable, with acid to neutral conditions. Wild plants also grow in strongly acid soils. Some sites flood from time to time. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12. Cuttings take root with ease. Bacteria form nodules on its roots and fix nitrogen. The plant uses some of this nitrogen for growth.

People in South America grew this plant before Europeans arrived. They used it to catch fish and kill ants. It remains a crop in parts of tropical South America. Its roots supply rotenone for insecticides sold beyond its home range. Its main documented value is as a source of these compounds. Plants For A Future also records traditional medicinal and ritual use of its bark. Those reports do not establish that such use is safe. The same source lists no known food use.

Rotenone makes this a plant that needs care in handling and use. It is toxic to humans and other mammals. Swallowing it can cause fatal poisoning. Fish, other aquatic life, and many insects are far more sensitive to it. Its natural origin does not make it safe for the environment. Sunlight breaks rotenone down, but this does not remove its risks during use. Keep its role as a fish poison distinct from any claim of food value.