Code
CASAL
Growth form
Shrub
Biological cycle
Perennial
Habitat
Marshland, terrestrial
Senna alata (L.)Roxb.
synonym | Cassia alata L. |
synonym | Cassia alata var. perennis Pamp. |
synonym | Cassia alata var. rumphiana DC. |
synonym | Cassia bracteata L.f. |
synonym | Cassia herpetica Jacq. |
synonym | Cassia rumphiana (DC.)Bojer |
synonym | Herpetica alata (L.)Raf. |
Creoles and pidgins; French-based |
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English |
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French |
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The genus Cassia was splited in Cassia, Chamaecrista and Senna, according to the following criteria :
Glands on the rachis and petiole | Petals | Stamens | Fruit | Bracteoles | Genus |
absent | subequal | 10 | indehiscent | present | Cassia |
absent or present | subequal | 10 or 7 fertil | indehiscent or dehiscent not elastic, valve not coiling | absent | Senna |
present | unequal | 10 or5 fertil | elastically dehiscent, valves coiling | present | Chamaecrista |
Distribution of Cassia spp. in the following table :
Old name | Valid name |
Cassia absus L. | Chamaecrista absus (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
Cassia alata L. | Senna alata (L.) Roxb.. |
Cassia fistula L. | Cassia fistula L. |
Cassia hirsuta L. | Senna hirsuta (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
Cassia javanica L. | Cassia javanica L. |
Cassia kirkii Oliv. | Chamaecrista kirkii (Oliv.) Standl. |
Cassia mimosoides L. | Chamaecrista mimosoides (L.) Greene |
Cassia nictitans L. | Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench |
Cassia nigricans Vahl. | Chamaecrista nigricans (Vahl.) Greene |
Cassia obtusifolia L. | Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
Cassia occidentalis L. | Senna occidentalis (L.) Link |
Cassia rotundifolia Pers. | Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Pers.) Greene |
Cassia siamea Lam. | Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
Cassia sieberiana DC | Cassia sieberiana DC |
Cassia tora L. | Senna tora (L.) Roxb. |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Global description
Senna alata is an upright shrub that is either hairless or appearing, somewhat woody, short-lived, 1 to 4 m tall. The leaves are alternate and paripinnate, large in size, with leaflets increasing in size from the base to the summit. The bright yellowish papilionaceous flowers are grouped into a large terminal spike-like inflorescence. The fruit is a linear pod with 4 wings and a crenate margin, black in color. It contains many seeds that are lozenge-shaped, brown at maturity.
General habit
Low shrubby, short-lived perennial shrubby plant measuring 1 to 4 m tall. Shrub with an unpleasant odor.
Underground system
The root is a taproot.
Stem
It is cylindrical, solid, ribbed at the base of the petioles.
Leaf
The leaves are alternate and compound, paripinnate. They are broad, yellow-green in color. The petiole thickened at the base, measuring up to 4 cm long. Its base is framed by 2 short, lanceolate stipules, auriculate at the base, 7 to 10 mm wide. The rachis is 40 to 70 cm long. It is of triangular section and without glands. It is flat above, slightly winged, widening before each pair of leaflets. It has 5 to 14 pairs of opposite leaflets, oblong, asymmetrical, rounded, with a rounded and mucronate top. They are shortly petiolulate or subsessiles. The leaflets are of increasing size from the base to the summit, they are 4 to 15 cm long and 2 to 7 cm wide. They are traversed by a dozen or so lateral veins, spreading out on the edge of the limb. The plant is glabrous. In fact, very short hairs are present, at least on young leaves.
Inflorescence
The flowers are grouped into a dense terminal spike-like inflorescence 20 to 35 cm long, a little shorter than the leaves.
Flower
They are bright yellow and about 3 cm wide. The flower buds are half covered by a broad, orange-colored concave bract that is falling down at maturity. The sepals, yellow-orange, are unequal. They measure 12 to 14 mm long. The petals, unequal, obovate form are 15 to 20 mm long. They are bright yellow. The stamens are 7, with 2 of them significantly longer than the others. 4 aborted stamens are also present. The ovary is pubescent sessile, with many ovules.
Fruit
The fruit is a linear pod with mucronate crown, 10 to 25 cm long and 1 to 8 cm wide. It has 4 angles each extended by a wide wing, crenellated edge. It is black in color. It contains many seeds separated by false partitions.
Seed
The seed is compressed, lozenge-shaped, brown in color. It is 5 to 7 mm long.
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Senna alata is a plant growing on disturbed humid environments, swamps and watercourse edges. It is also a village plant (introduced in Africa as an ornamental plant and for its medicinal properties) and forest gaps. It can withstand a short flood.
Mayotte: Senna alata is an exotic species sometimes cultivated for its appearance and its erect yellow inflorescences. It is naturalized in a wide range of secondarized and semi-natural environments.
Attributions | wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Origin
Senna alata is native to tropical America (Amazonia).
Worldwide distribution
This species has been introduced and is widely distributed in all tropical regions (Asia, Pacific, Oceania, Africa).
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Global harmfulness
Senna alata is a ruderal species and a common weed in lowland ricefields with irregular water management.
Local harmfulness
Côte d'Ivoire: frequent and scanty.
Ghana: rare and scanty.
Mauritius: Only ornamental plant
Nigeria: rare and scanty.
Uganda: frequent and scanty.
Reunion: Only ornamental plant
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Medicinal: The crushed leaves of Senna alata are used to treat dermatoses.
Ornamental: Senna alata is frequently used as an ornamental plant in gardens.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
- Grard, P., et al. (2012). AFROweeds V.1.0: African weeds of rice Montpellier, France & Cotonou, Bénin, Cirad-AfricaRice eds.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M., Keay, R.W.J., Hepper, F.N. 1958. Flora of west tropical africa. The Whitefriars Press, London & Tonbridge, Great Britain.
- Berhaut, J. 1967. Flore du Sénégal. Clairafrique, Dakar, Sénégal. Fournet, J. 2002. Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Cirad, Gondwana éditions, Montpellier, France.
- Grard, P., et al. (2012). AFROweeds V.1.0: African weeds of rice Montpellier, France & Cotonou, Bénin, Cirad-AfricaRice eds.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M., Keay, R.W.J., Hepper, F.N. 1958. Flora of west tropical africa. The Whitefriars Press, London & Tonbridge, Great Britain.
- Berhaut, J. 1967. Flore du Sénégal. Clairafrique, Dakar, Sénégal. Fournet, J. 2002. Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Cirad, Gondwana éditions, Montpellier, France.
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=senna%2520alata
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Phylum | Tracheophyta |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Order | Fabales |
Family | Fabaceae |
Genus | Senna |
Species | Senna alata (L.) Roxb. |