Senna artemisioides, commonly known as silver cassia,[2][3][4] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to Australia, where it is found in all mainland states and territories. It is a shrub with pinnate leaves, the leaflets variable, yellow flowers mostly occurring in winter, and linear pods. Six subspecies, four hybrid subspecies and two subspecies named but not yet described are accepted by the Australian Plant Census.
Senna artemisioides is a shrub that typically grows to a height of .15–3m (5.9in– 9ft 10.1in) high and has pinnate leaves, the leaflets in pairs of one to eight, with a sessilegland between the lowest pair of leaflets. The leaves have tiny, triangular stipules, but fall off as the leaves mature. The flowers are yellow and borne in clusters of two to fifteen in leaf axils on a peduncle up to about 15mm (0.59in) long, the petals 5–10mm (0.20–0.39in) long, each flower on a pedicel up to about 10mm (0.39in) long. The sepals are 6–8mm (0.24–0.31in) long and greenish, the petals mostly 7–10mm (0.28–0.39in) long. There are ten fertile stamens, the anthers4–5mm (0.16–0.20in) long. The fruit is a glabrous, linear pod 5–10cm (2.0–3.9in) long, 8–15mm (0.31–0.59in) wide.[2][5][6]
Senna artemisioides is known as wormwood senna in the U.K.,[12] and as silver senna in the U.S., where it is an introduced species.[13][14]
As of May 2023, the names of six subspecies of S. artemisioides are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:
Senna artemisioides subsp. aliciaRandell[15] (N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W.) has cylindrical petioles, the leaves with up to three pairs of flat, silky-hairy, egg-shaped leaflets at least 2mm (0.079in) wide and held vertically, exposing the lower surface. It has clusters of six to fifteen flowers with petals 8–10mm (0.31–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods about 70mm (2.8in) long and 15–25mm (0.59–0.98in) wide.[16][17][18]
Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia, Randell commonly known as desert cassia, broom bush or punty bush,[19] (W.A., N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W., Vic.) has cylindrical petioles that are more than 15mm (0.59in) long, the leaves with up to four pairs of cylindrical leaflets 20–40mm (0.79–1.57in) long. It has clusters of three to ten flowers with petals 7–10mm (0.28–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods 20–70mm (0.79–2.76in) long and 10–12mm (0.39–0.47in) wide. Flowering mostly occurs in winter.[20][21][22][23]
Senna artemisioides subsp. helmsii(Symon) Randell (previously known as Cassia helmsiiSymon) – commonly known as blunt-leaved cassia or crinkled cassia[24] (W.A., N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W.) has cylindrical petioles, the leaves with flat, woolly-hairy, egg-shaped leaflets at least 2mm (0.079in) wide. It has clusters of four to ten flowers with petals 8–10mm (0.31–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods 50–65mm (2.0–2.6in) long and 15–20mm (0.59–0.79in) wide. Flowering occurs in winter.[25][26][27]
Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla(F.Muell.) Randell – blunt-leaved cassia[28] (W.A., N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W.) has cylindrical petioles 5–15mm (0.20–0.59in) long, the leaflets egg-shaped, 10–40mm (0.39–1.57in) long and 10–20mm (0.39–0.79in) wide. It has clusters of four to twelve flowers with petals 8–10mm (0.31–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods about 70mm (2.8in) long and 15–25mm (0.59–0.98in) wide. Flowering occurs in winter.[29][30]
Senna artemisioides subsp. quadrifoliaRandell[31] (N.T., S.A., Qld.) has cylindrical petioles 15–25mm (0.59–0.98in) long, the leaflets narrowly elliptic, 20–50mm (0.79–1.97in) long and 2–10mm (0.079–0.394in) wide. It has clusters of four to eight flowers with petals 8–10mm (0.31–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods about 70mm (2.8in) long and 15mm (0.59in) wide. Flowering occurs in winter.[32][33]
Senna artemisioides subsp. zygophylla(Benth.) Randell[34] (S.A., Qld., N.S.W., Vic.) has cylindrical petioles, the leaves with flat, glabrous, linear to elliptic leaflets more than five times as long as broad. It has clusters of three to five flowers with petals 6–9mm (0.24–0.35in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods 20–70mm (0.79–2.76in) long and 10–12mm (0.39–0.47in) wide. Flowering occurs in winter.[35][36][37]
Four hybrid subspecies are also recognised by the Australian Plant Census:
Senna artemisioides(Gaudich. ex DC.) Randell subsp. × artemisioides (previously known as Cassia circinnataBenth. )[38] (W.A., N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W., Vic.) has cylindrical petioles that are less than 15mm (0.59in) long, the leaves with three to eight pairs of cylindrical, hairy leaflets 15–25mm (0.59–0.98in) long, the edges rolled upwards so that the upper surface is not visible. It has clusters of four to twelve flowers with petals 7–10mm (0.28–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods 40–80mm (1.6–3.1in) long and 6–10mm (0.24–0.39in) wide. Flowering mostly occurs in winter.[39][40][41][42]
Senna artemisioides subsp. × coriacea(Benth.) Randell (previously known as Cassia sturtii var. coriaceaBenth.)[43] (W.A., N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W., Vic.) has cylindrical petioles, the leaves flat with up to six pairs of linear to elliptic leaflets that are sparsely hairy and glaucous, the leaflet held horizontally. It has clusters of six to ten flowers with petals 5–8mm (0.20–0.31in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods 30–50mm (1.2–2.0in) long and 10–12mm (0.39–0.47in) wide. Flowering occurs in winter.[44][45][46][47]
Senna artemisioides subsp. × petiolarisRandell – woody cassia[48] (W.A., N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W., Vic.) has petioles that are laterally compressed. It has clusters of two to ten flowers with petals 7–10mm (0.28–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods 40–80mm (1.6–3.1in) long and 6–10mm (0.24–0.39in) wide. Flowering usually occurs in winter.[49][50][51][52]
Senna artemisioides subsp. × sturtiiRandell (previously known as Cassia sturtiiR.Br..)[53] (W.A., N.T., S.A., Qld., N.S.W.) has cylindrical petioles, the leaves flat with linear to elliptic leaflets that are densely silky- or woolly-hairy, but never glaucous. It has clusters of four to eight flowers with petals 7–10mm (0.28–0.39in) long, with ten fertile stamens and pods 60–70mm (2.4–2.8in) long and 9–12mm (0.35–0.47in) wide. Flowering occurs in winter.[54][55][56]
A further two subspecies are named, but as of May 2023, not formally described:
Senna artemisioides subsp. James Range (P.L.Latz 18528) NT Herbarium[57] (N.T.)[58]
Senna artemisioides subsp. Kuyunba (B.Pitts 113) NT Herbarium[59] (N.T.)[60]
Distribution
Silver cassia is endemic to Australia, occurring in all mainland states and territories, and has been introduced to California, the Canary Islands, Cyprus, India, Iraq, Spain and Zimbabwe.[14]
Senna artemisioides adapts to a wide range of climatic conditions, but is susceptible to frost, especially when young. It prefers dry, well-drained sites with full sun. As an ornamental plant, it is propagated readily from seed, which should first be briefly immersed in boiling water.[65]
↑ "Senna artemisiodes". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
↑ Spooner, Amanda. "Senna artemisioides". FLORABASE-Flora of Western Australia. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides subsp. alicia". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides subsp. helmsii". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides subsp. quadrifolia". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides subsp. zygophylla". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides × artemisioides". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides × coriacea". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides × petiolaris". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ "Senna artemisioides × petiolaris". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
↑ Hunt, Lindsay; Grund, Roger; Keane, David; Forrest, Jan (2007). Attracting Butterflies to your Garden - What to Grow and Conserve in the Adelaide Redion (2nded.). Butterfly Conservation South Australia Inc. p.143. ISBN9780646955353.
↑ McQuillan, Peter; Forrest, Jan; Keane, David; Grund, Roger (2019). Caterpillars, Moths and their Plants of southern Australia. Butterfly Conservation South Australia Inc. pp.128, 144. ISBN978-0-646-80648-8.
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