Botany
Smooth, deciduous tree, 3 to 10 meters high.
Leavesw are opposite, oblong-ovate, 4-6 cm long with a pointed tip and rounded base.
Flowers are pink, 2 cm long, with a truncate calyx.
The pods are narrow, oblong to oblanceolate, 10 t 14 cm longs, 2 cm wide, containing 6 to 8 seeds.

Distribution
The tree is common in the southern Tagalog areas,
shedding leaves around December and flowering February
and March.

Parts utilized
Leaves, bark, roots.

Constituents
Leaves: coumarin

Uses
Folkloric
Dermatitis, skin itching: Apply juice or decoction of leaves, bark or roots on the skin as antipruritic.
Fresh leaves applied to the skin as insect repellant.
As counterirritant: Crush leaves and apply as poultice for rheumatic pains, sprains and closed fractures.
Sap of bark, leaves and roots have been used for wound healing.
Treatment of scabies.
Studies
• Potential as anti-pseudomonas drug: Crude extract of Gliricidium sepium showed potential antipseudomonas drug potential with an in vitro study showing a minimum inhibitory concentration at 1%.
Others
Wood is hard and durable used for small housing needs, posts, implement handles and firewood.
Leaves have a fetid smell; crushed, used to rid dogs of fleas and ticks and cattle, of ticks.

Preparation for scabies treatment:
Ingredients:
1. White candelsticks (4)
2. Coconut oil or any cooking oil: 500 cc
3. Kakawati leaves 250 g
Instructions:
1. Clean kakawati leaves thoroughly
2. Chop leaves finely
3. Add 250 g (approximately 1 glass) of finely chopped leaves into 2 glasses of coconut oil.
4. Mix while boiling.
5. Gather leaves on the surface of the oil, then drain using a strainer.
6. Get 4 white candles ('esperma") and chop finely.
7. Add to the boiled preparation and mix until all chopped candles are melted.
8. Again, using a strainer, drain and transfer mixture into a clean glass container. Let it cool.

Availability
Wild-crafted.