Senna spectabilis

Last updated

Senna spectabilis
Cassia carnaval.jpg
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. spectabilis
Binomial name
Senna spectabilis
(DC.) Irwin & Barneby
Synonyms

Numerous, see text

Senna spectabilis is a plant species of the legume family (Fabaceae) in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae native to South and Central America. They are often grown as an ornamental in front yards, parks, gardens, buildings etc. due to their bright yellow flowers that bloom during the summer months. They are also known as golden wonder tree, American cassia, popcorn tree, Cassia excelsa, golden shower tree or Archibald's cassia.

Contents

The plant has become an invasive alien species in parts of Africa such as Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, and also in South-India, after it was introduced for resources such as firewood as well as to help combat deteriorating ecosystems affected by deforestation and desertification. Currently, S. spectabilis is overtaking native tree species of forestry ecosystems around the world because of its ability to grow quickly. [1]

Description

Senna spectabilis

Senna spectabilis is a shrub or deciduous tree that can grow anywhere from 15 to 20 ft in height and 15–20 ft in width. S. spectabilis have a rounded vase-shaped crown, which is dense and symmetrical. S. spectabilis is pollinated by bees and has a very fast growth rate.

Foliage

A rounded, evergreen foliage, arranged alternatively. The leaf type is odd-pinnately compound with pinnate leaf venation and 4–15 pairs of leaflets each growing to as large as 7.5 cm. The leaves are green and yellow in color and remains as so year around. The leaf blades grow between 2–4 inches long and experience a circadian rhythm or nyctinasty, closing at night and opening at dawn.

Flower and fruit

Flowers of Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby.jpg
Flowers of Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Senna spectabilis fruit pod Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby - 49110572521.jpg
Senna spectabilis fruit pod

Bright yellow inflorescence 10–50 cm long containing a corolla 3.5–4 cm in diameter with five unequal petals. The flowers are very showy producing elongated pod shaped fruits about 6–12 inches in length. The fruit is a dry dehiscent, black/brownish in color containing numerous flat brown seeds, 0.5 cm in diameter. [2]

Trunk and branches

Multiple trunks with diameters of up to about 30 cm. [3] The branches are droopy with smooth grey bark having horizontal markings. As the plant matures it develops many warts and broad vertical bands of lenticels . In the first year of development the stem is finely hairy.

Distribution

Senna spectabilis is native from South America first found in eastern tropical Brazil and coastal Ecuador, eventually migrating throughout Central America as well as the West Indies in forests from up to 2000 m of altitude. ' Their habitats include rain forest, semi-deciduous and dry forest, montane forest, and dry valleys. The plant requires full sunlight and well-drained soil to grow. S. spectabilis can flourish in a variety of different soils from moist, clay, sand, loam, slightly alkaline, and acidic soils even in poor black cotton soils. However it has difficulties adapting to soils with high aerosol salt concentrations. There are no known diseases that affects the plant. Today the species can be found in tropical areas all around the world due to its invasive nature. [4]

Taxonomy and systematics

Senna spectabilis was long placed in the genus Cassia , or in the non-monophyletic Cathartocarpus assemblage, or separated – together with its relative Senna peralteana – in Pseudocassia. In addition, it has been variously treated under a range of taxa, some of which were also used for related plants: [5]

Cassia excelsaKunth is a synonym of Cassia fistula . See also below.
Cassia acutifoliaDelile and Senna acutifolia(Delile) Batka are synonyms of Senna alexandrina Mill.
Senna speciosaRoxb. is a synonym of Senna surattensis (Burm. f.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby. See also below.

In addition, one or two varieties of this species are recognized:

The taxonomic tree of Senna spectabillis:

Uses

Senna spectabilis has a few medicinal properties. The plant can be used as a treatment for ringworm and skin diseases. After extracting a leaf on alcohol there was significant antifungal activity, which suggests it can be used with infections caused by Candida albicans. The plant is effective against food borne pathogen B. Senna spectabilis also produces several substances that we deem necessary for metabolism, in which they are also used as a medicine or pharmaceutical drug. Pharmaceuticals that can produce piperidine alkaloids, pentacyclic terpenoids, and anthraquinones. It is also used in both eastern and western traditional medicine treating several different diseases and symptoms. [6]

Senna spectabilis is also used as a medicinal plant in Cameroon by traditional healers to treat epilepsy, constipation, insomnia, and anxiety. In a recent study, the anticonvulsant effects of S. spectabilis was observed on mice undergoing seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and pilocarpine (PC). It was discovered that the mice undergoing PTZ induced seizures were protected 100% of the time when administered the lowest plant dose. In another experiment on differing doses, the plant offered protection up to 75% of the time on antagonized seizures induced by PC. The study concluded that Senna spectabilis contains anticonvulsant activity, most likely acting on the GABA complex receptor. [7]

Other non medical related uses, S. spectabilis is used in agroforestry as a shade tree. The species is useful for fodder, mulch, firewood and as a source of honey. The heartwood is brown and the sapwood is white-ish. The wood is heavy, soft, and hard, when kept dry can be resistant to termites. For this reason S. spectabilis is often used for economic reasons. The wood is used for tool handles, boxes, furniture, lumber and other construction materials. The wood is also used as fuel wood and to make charcoal. [8]

Also, S. spectabilis was introduced to Africa as an ornamental and a boundary marker. It's not highly valued but it does produce good quality firewood. Senna spectabillis can invade disturbed forests, forest edges, and gaps where it can establish and suppress the regeneration of native species. [9] Recently Tamil Nadu started making paper for the press for better utilization of this invasive tree spreading in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

Related Research Articles

<i>Cassia</i> (genus) Genus of legumes

Cassia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae, and the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Species are known commonly as cassias. The genus includes 37 species and has a pantropical distribution. Species of the genera Senna and Chamaecrista were previously included in Cassia. Cassia now generally includes the largest species of the legume subtribe Cassiinae, usually mid-sized to tall trees.

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

Senna obtusifolia, known by the common names Chinese senna, American sicklepod, sicklepod, etc., is a plant in the genus Senna, sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Diallobus. It grows wild in North, Central, and South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and is considered a particularly serious weed in many places. It has a long-standing history of confusion with Senna tora and that taxon in many sources actually refers to the present species.

<i>Senna tora</i> Species of flowering plant

Senna tora is a plant species in the family Fabaceae and the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Its name is derived from its Sinhala name tora (තෝර). It grows wild in most of the tropics and is considered a weed in many places. Its native range is in Central America. Its most common English name is sickle senna or sickle wild sensitive-plant. Other common names include sickle pod, tora, coffee pod and foetid cassia. It is often confused with Chinese senna or sickle pod, Senna obtusifolia.

<i>Senna</i> (plant) Genus of flowering leguminous plants

Senna, the sennas, is a large genus of flowering plants in the legume family. This diverse genus is native throughout the tropics, with a small number of species in temperate regions. The number of species is estimated to be from about 260 to 350. The type species for the genus is Senna alexandrina. About 50 species of Senna are known in cultivation.

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

Senna alexandrina is an ornamental plant in the genus Senna. It is used in herbalism. It grows natively in upper Egypt, especially in the Nubian region, and near Khartoum (Sudan), where it is cultivated commercially. It is also grown elsewhere, notably in India and Somalia.

<i>Chamaecrista</i> Genus of legumes

Chamaecrista is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Members of the genus are commonly known as sensitive pea. Several species are capable of rapid plant movement. Unlike the related genera Cassia and Senna, members of Chamaecrista form root nodules.

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

Senna bicapsularis is a species of the legume genus Senna, native to northern South America, from Panama south to Venezuela and Colombia, and also the West Indies. Common names include rambling senna, winter cassia, Christmas bush, money bush, and yellow candlewood. In Florida, Senna pendula is usually cultivated as, and misapplied to, S. bicapsularis.

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

Senna wislizeni, commonly called Wislizenus' senna or shrubby senna. Formerly in the "wastebin taxon" Cassia sensu lato, it is now placed in the genus Senna or sometimes separated in Palmerocassia together with Senna unijuga.

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

Senna macranthera is a tree in the family of Fabaceae.

<i>Senna surattensis</i> Species of leguminous plant

Senna surattensis is a plant species of the legume family (Fabaceae) in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.

<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'.

<i>Chamaecrista absus</i> Species of plant in the family Fabaceae

Chamaecrista absus, the pig's senna or tropical sensitive pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, with a worldwide distribution in the tropics and subtropics. An annual herb reaching 60 cm (24 in), it is a common weed of cultivated and waste places, and its seeds are regularly harvested and sold for use in traditional medicine in Africa and Asia.

<i>Cassia ferruginea</i> Species of plant in the family Fabaceae

Cassia ferruginea is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Brazil. It is used as a street tree in a number of Brazilian cities.

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

Senna multijuga, commonly known as November shower or false sicklepod, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to wet tropical areas of Latin America, and widely introduced to other tropical locales such as Africa, India, Indonesia, China, Australia, and Hawaii. A fast-growing tree typically 10 m (33 ft) tall, it is planted in restoration projects, as an ornamental, and as a street tree, being especially useful under power lines.

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

Senna lindheimeriana, the velvet leaf senna, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the US states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and to eastern Mexico. A perennial typically 1.5 m (5 ft) tall, it is hardy to USDA zone 8a, and is recommended for xeriscaping and for feeding birds, butterflies and bumblebees. It is thought to be lethally toxic to livestock, but is so foul-smelling and unpalatable that only starving mammals will consume it.

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

Senna roemeriana, the twoleaf senna, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the US states of New Mexico and Texas, and to northern Mexico. A perennial of limestone soils and typically 18 in (46 cm) tall, it is toxic to livestock, particularly goats and sheep, but they avoid consuming it with proper range management.

Senna atomaria, the flor de San Jose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, and Venezuela. A shrub or small tree, it is considered a multi-purpose species; fuel, wood, biomass, soil improvement, medicine, and ornament.

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

Senna hirsuta, commonly known as woolly senna, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is native to Central and South America, but is naturalised in many other countries. It is an erect or spreading shrub or herbaceous perennial with pinnate leaves, with two to six pairs of egg-shaped leaflets, and yellow flowers arranged in groups of two to six, with six fertile stamens and four staminodes in each flower.

References

  1. "Senna spectabilis (whitebark senna)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  2. "Factsheet – Senna spectabilis (Spectacular Cassia)". keys.lucidcentral.org. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  3. Mazza, Giuseppe (2008-08-10). "Senna spectabilis". Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  4. "Senna spectabilis (whitebark senna)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  5. ILDIS (2005)
  6. Selegato, Denise; Monteiro, Afif; Vieira, Natália; Cardoso, Patrícia; Pavani, Victor; Bolzani, Vanderlan; Castro-Gamboa, Ian (2016). "Update: Biological and Chemical Aspects of Senna spectabilis". Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society. doi: 10.21577/0103-5053.20160322 . hdl: 11449/178587 . ISSN   0103-5053.
  7. Gisele Claudine Nkamguie Nkantchoua, Jacqueline Stephanie Kameni Njapdounke, Jean Jules Fifen, Germain Sotoing Taiwe, Lucie Josiane Ojong, Antoine Kavaye Kandeda, Elisabeth Ngo Bum, Anticonvulsant effects of Senna spectabilis on seizures induced by chemicals and maximal electroshock, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 212, 2018, Pages 18–28,
  8. "Senna spectabilis (whitebark senna)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  9. "Factsheet - Senna spectabilis (Spectacular Cassia)".