Deguelia utilis

"Cubé" redirects here. For other, see Cube (disambiguation).

Deguelia utilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Deguelia
Species:	D. utilis
Binomial name
Deguelia utilis (A.C.Sm.) A.M.G.Azevedo
Synonyms
Derris utilis (A.C.Sm.) Lonchocarpus nicou var. utilis (A.C.Sm.) Lonchocarpus utilis A.C.Sm. Deguelia alata M.Sousa Lonchocarpus nicou var. languidus F.J.Herm.

Deguelia utilis, syn. Lonchocarpus utilis (cubé, (common) lancepod or barbasco) is a species of shrub in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the tropical forests of Peru, as well as of Brazil and Guyana, growing from 100–1,800 m (330–5,910 ft) above sea level.

Cubé resin, the root extract from cubé and from barbasco (Lonchocarpus urucu), is used as a commercial insecticide and piscicide (fish poison). The major active ingredients are rotenone and deguelin. Although "organic" (produced by nature) rotenone is no longer considered an environmentally safe chemical.

Miscellaneous

Cubé is toxic to insects, fish, and other pets. The primary threat to humans and other mammals comes from inhaling the powdered root or root extract.