Senna alata

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Senna alata
Senna alata (1).jpg
Candle Bush flowers
Status TNC G4.svg
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Senna
Species:
S. alata
Binomial name
Senna alata
Synonyms
  • Cassia alataL.
  • Cassia alataL. var. perennisPamp.
  • Cassia alataL. var. rumphianaDC.
  • Cassia bracteataL.f.
  • Cassia herpeticaJacq.
  • Cassia rumphiana(DC.) Bojer
  • Herpetica alata(L.) Raf.

Senna alata is an important medicinal tree, as well as an ornamental flowering plant in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It also known as emperor's candlesticks, [1] candle bush, [2] candelabra bush, Christmas candles, [3] empress candle plant, ringworm shrub, [3] or candletree . A remarkable species of Senna , it was sometimes separated in its own genus, Herpetica.

Contents

Geographic range

Senna alata is native to most of the Neotropics (from Mexico and the West Indies to Paraguay), [4] [5] [6] and can be found in diverse habitats. In the tropics, it grows up to an altitude of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). It is an invasive species in Austronesia distributed in ranges from India to America. These plants have a greater ornamental and medicinal value in the southeast Asia, North Australia and African ranges.

Description

The shrub stands 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1 ft) tall, with leaves 50–80 centimetres (20–31 in) long.

The leaves close in the dark.

The inflorescence looks like a yellow candle.

The fruit, shaped like a straight pod, is up to 25 cm long. Its seeds are distributed by water or animals.

The seed pods are nearly straight, dark brown or nearly black, about 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, and 15 millimetres (0.59 in) wide. On both sides of the pods is a wing that runs the length of the pod. Pods contain 50 to 60 flattened, triangular seeds.

Cultivation

This species is easy to grow from the seed. They may either be sown directly or started in a nursery.

Medicinal uses

Senna alata (also known as Cassia alata) is often called the ringworm bush because of its very effective fungicidal properties, for treating ringworm and other fungal infections of the skin. The leaves are ground in a mortar to obtain a kind of "green cotton wool". This is mixed with the same amount of vegetable oil and rubbed on the affected area two or three times a day. A fresh preparation is made every day. [7] Its active ingredients include the yellow chrysophanic acid.

Its laxative effect, due to its anthraquinone content, is also well proven.

Senna alata is locally known as akapulko in the Philippines where it is used as both an ornamental and medicinal plant due to its laxative, purgative and anti-fungal properties. [8]

In Sri Lanka, known as Ath-thora (ඇත්තෝර), it is used as an ingredient in Sinhala traditional medicine.

In Malaysia, it is known as Gelenggang.

Yoruba of west Africa refer to it as ewe àsùnwòn

Images

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<i>Senna bicapsularis</i> Species of legume

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<i>Senna auriculata</i> Species of legume

Senna auriculata is a leguminous tree in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is commonly known by its local names matura tea tree, avaram or ranawara, or the English version avaram senna. It is the State flower of Indian state of Telangana. It occurs in the dry regions of India and Sri Lanka. It is common along the sea coast and the dry zone in Sri Lanka.

<i>Oroxylum indicum</i> Species of tree

Oroxylum indicum is a species of flowering plant belonging to the monotypic genus Oroxylum and the family Bignoniaceae, and is commonly called Indian trumpet tree, oroxylum, Indian trumpet flower, broken bones, Indian caper, scythe tree or tree of Damocles. It can reach a height of 18 metres (59 ft). Various segments of the tree are used in traditional medicine, where it is known as Shyonaka or Sona Patha.

<i>Aframomum corrorima</i> Species of plant in the family Zingiberaceae

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<i>Senna didymobotrya</i> Species of legume

Senna didymobotrya is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names African senna, popcorn senna, candelabra tree, and peanut butter cassia. It is native to Africa, where it can be found across the continent in several types of habitats.

<i>Senna occidentalis</i> Species of plant

Senna occidentalis, commonly known as coffee senna, styptic weed, or septicweed, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is native to India, the southern United States of America, Mexico and South America. It is a shrub with pinnate leaves, with three to seven pairs of broadly elliptic to egg-shaped leaflets, and yellow flowers arranged in groups of two to four, with six fertile stamens in each flower. It is an aggressive, pantropical weed.

<i>Senna italica</i> Species of legume

Senna italica, the Port Royal senna, Italian senna, or Senegal senna is a legume tree in the genus Senna. It is recognized by many other common names based on the regions it grows in. In India, it is used to produce a powder for treating hair-related diseases which is known as “neutral henna”. Whereas, in some parts of the world, this species is cultivated for the leaves which yield the drug senna, known commonly as Senna glycoside, which in turn is the base for a laxative. Senegal senna is easily distinguishable through its many distinctive features. There are 3 subspecies of this plant based on the size of the inflorescence and the length of the petiole. The subspecies are italica, micrantha, and arachoides. In many regions, this plant is cultivated commercially and medicinally.

<i>Senna siamea</i> Species of legume

Senna siamea, also known as Siamese cassia, kassod tree, cassod tree and cassia tree, is a legume in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is native to South and Southeast Asia, although its exact origin is unknown.

<i>Senna odorata</i> Species of legume

Senna odorata, which is also known as fragrant senna, spreading cassia, sweet-scented cassia or southern cassia, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family that is native to Australia.

<i>Senna pendula</i> Species of legume

Senna pendula, also known as Easter Cassia, Christmas Senna, winter Senna, climbing Cassia, golden shower, pendant Senna and valamuerto, is a plant of the Fabaceae family with a shrub habit that is native to South America. It used in various parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is an environmental weed in Australia. The flowers are yellow and the name pendula means 'pendulous' or 'drooping'.

References

  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Senna allata". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. "Plant species and sites" (PDF). Government of Australia . Retrieved 1 May 2018.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. 1 2 Weeds of Australia, Queensland Government, 2014-10-20, retrieved 1 May 2018
  4. Standley, Paul; Steyermark, Julian (1946). "Flora of Guatemala". Fieldiana. v.24:pt.5 (1946): 109.
  5. Standley, Paul (1937). "Flora of Costa Rica". Fieldiana. v.18:pt.2 (1937): 514.
  6. Nicolson, Dan; et al. (1991). "Flora of Dominica vol. 2". Smithsonian Contributions to Botany (77 (1991)): 112. ISSN   0081-024X.
  7. HIRT, Dr Hans Martin, & Bindanda M'Pia (2008) Natural Medicine in the Tropics I: Foundation text. anamed, Winnenden, Germany
  8. "Akapulko / Cassia alata Linn. / RINGWORM BUSH / Yi bing jue ming / Herbal Therapy / Philippine Medicinal Herbs / Alternative Medicine in the Philippines". www.stuartxchange.org. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

Sources