Abrus precatorius

Abrus precatorius L., Syst. Nat., ed. 12. 2: 472 (1767). 

Abrus precatorius L., Photo by Annie Nguyen 

The native range of this species is Tropical & Subtropical Old World to N. & E. Australia. It is a climbing shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is has environmental uses and social uses, as animal food, a poison and a medicine and for food.

Vietnamese names: 

Cam thảo dây, Dây cườm cườm, Dây chi chi, Tương tư đằng,Cảm sảo (Tày)

Scientific name: 

Abrus precatorius L.

Family: 

Fabaceae

Uses: 

Medicine to relieve fever, cough, and detoxify (Decoct the leaves to drink). Used externally, the crushed seeds can be applied to pimples to quickly drain the pus. Toxic seeds.

Distribution: 

Cultivated plant, also grows wild in shrublands in many parts of Vietnam.

Flower and fruit season: 

March - June, September - October