Senna surattensis

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Senna surattensis
Starr 080314-3425 Senna surattensis.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. surattensis
Binomial name
Senna surattensis
Synonyms

Cassia fastigiataVahl
Cassia glauca var. koenigiiKurz
Cassia glauca var. suffruticosa(J.Koenig ex Roth) Baker, J.D.Hooker
Cassia spinigera var. suffruticosa(J.Koenig ex Roth) Ali
Cassia suffruticosaJ.Koenig ex Roth
Cassia surattensis subsp. suffruticosa(J.Koenig ex Roth) K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen
Cassia surattensis var. suffruticosa(J.Koenig ex Roth) Chatterjee
Psilorhegma suffruticosa(J.Koenig ex Roth) Britton

Contents

Senna surattensis, also called glossy shower, scrambled egg tree, glossy shower, golden Senna, glaucous Cassia, sunshine tree and bushy Cassia, is a plant species of the legume family (Fabaceae) in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae that is native to southeast Asia, and possibly northern and eastern Australia. [5] [6] [7] S. surattensis is named after Surat district, situated near Bombay, India. [8]

Description

Flower of Senna surattensis Scrambled Egg Bush (Senna surattensis).jpg
Flower of Senna surattensis
Seed pods Senna surattensis (5).jpg
Seed pods

It grows as a shrub or small tree to 11 m high. Stems are hairy, sometimes sparsely to nearly glabrous. Leaves are compound, alternate. Stipules are linear, 2-3 mm long. Petiole is 2-6.5 cm long, channeled, thinly hairy. Stalked glands have leaflet pairs with 2-5 per leaf, solitary at lowest pair. [9]

Leaflets number at 8-20, which are opposite, pinnately compound, paripinnate, upper leaflets are largest. Petiolules are 1-2 mm long. Leaflet blades are egg-shaped, oblong to obovate, 2.5-10 cm in length, 0.8-3 cm in width, base is round-shaped or cuneate, at times lopsided. Margins are entire, apex is round-shaped or emarginate. The side veins are made up of 6-12 pairs. Leaflets and rachis are lightly hairy to hairless. [9]

The plant has been confused with Senna sulfurea and Senna siamea , except that this plant has many more smaller leaflets, smaller brachystylous flowers and shorter, short-stipitate pod. [8]

Inflorescences

Inflorescences are axillary in upper axils, flowers in umbellate racemes that consist of 4-10 bisexual, slightly zygomorphic flowers. Pedicels are 1.5-3 cm long. Sepals are rough, elliptic, 3-8 mm long, glabrous or sparsely hairy, and green. Petals are oblong-elliptic, 10-24 (-30) mm long, hairless or just mildly hairy, yellow, with a distinct venation. Fertile anthers 5-6 mm long; carpel is solitary, long and arched, ovary is superior and style is curved. 10 stamens are present and filaments are 1-2 mm long. Fruit is a dry, flat pod, 8-15 cm long. [9]

Distribution

The origin of this species is still unclear. Antecedently, it was thought to be native to coastal north Australia and Malesia, but Symon (1966) stated that it was likely introduced there. Though Liogier and Martorell (2000) consider the species native to Australia. Agricultural Research Service (2014) lists the plant as native to Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. [8]

The species is known to occur in several tropical and subtropical regions including Southeast Asia, Africa, and the West Indies, where it has escaped into the wild, thereby naturalizing in these places. In Sri Lanka, the species is commonly planted, except that it is not naturalized. Elsewhere, it is found on roadsides, pastures, and wastelands in the lower altitudes. In Southeast Asia, it thrives in teak forests and boggy soils, whereas in Hawaii it grow in volcanic zones and coastal forests. [8]

Cultivation

Roadside tree in Lanai City Starr-070403-6491-Senna surattensis-flowering habit-Lanai City-Lanai (24591240290).jpg
Roadside tree in Lanai City

Having a medium tolerance for drought, the plant grows in well-drained, moist, loamy and marshy soils where it is planted in roadsides, parks and small gardens where it is used as a shade tree and a hedge plant. It can easily be toppled by heavy winds, therefore it needs many years to become established in ground. Furthermore, the plant withstands sulphur dioxide pollution, thereby making it a commonly planted ornamental in populated regions like the Philippines and Hong Kong. It is propagated by seed. [7]

It is noted to have been cultivated on St. Vincent and the Windward Islands prior to 1826. It may have been included (as Cassia glauca Lam.) in Grisebach's flora on the British West Indies, where it was reported in Jamaica, Saint Kitts, Antigua and St. Vincent, and also native to Guadeloupe (which is unlikely) and the East Indies. It also may have been cultivated in Trinidad by 1870 and it was introduced as an ornamental plant in Puerto Rico just after 1826. In Hawaii, it was naturalized by 1871 and in Sri Lanka it was present there since 1824. [8]

Uses

In Southeast Asia, its juvenile leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. In the Philippines, it is used in teak plantations as a shade tree and hedge plant. The roots have been used to treat gonorrhoea, its leaves for dysentery, and flowers as a laxative. [8]

Invasiveness

Flower closeup Senna surattensis (2).jpg
Flower closeup

The plant is listed as an environmental weed and a cultivation escape in the Global Compendium of Weeds, where it smothers pastures and has a history of perennial introductions outside of its endemic range. Its spread is mainly by human cultivation rather than by seed dispersal though. It is classified as an invasive species in various Asian and Pacific countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, French Polynesia, and Micronesia, including Hawaii. [8]

The plant produces seeds abundantly, with 20 seeds per pod. However, the plant's risk of introduction is moderate, since the seeds are heavy and unable to disperse by the wind (the pods generally stay on the plant, so the seeds do not fall and germinate). Moreover, dispersal by animals is unlikely because the pods do not have juice vesicles to draw them in. [8]

Predation

Catopsilia scylla and Catopsilia pomona consume the leaves. Eurema blanda only eats the young leaves, and Oecophylla smaragdina will frequently build nests on the plant. [8]

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 spectabilis</i> Species of legume

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.

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

Senna obtusifolia, known by common names including Chinese senna, American sicklepod and sicklepod, 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 problematic 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</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>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.

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 gaudichaudii</i> Species of plant

Senna gaudichaudii, also known by many common names, including kolomana in Hawaii and as blunt-leaved senna in Australia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is native to some Pacific Islands including Hawaii, parts of Southeast Asia and Queensland in Australia. It is shrub or small tree with pinnate leaves, usually with three to five pairs of oblong to egg-shaped leaflets, and yellow flowers arranged in groups of four to ten, with ten fertile stamens in each flower.

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

Senna multiglandulosa, commonly known as glandular senna, downy senna, or buttercup bush is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is native to Mexico, Guatemala, and western parts of South America. It is a shrub with pinnate leaves, usually with six to eight pairs of linear to lance-shaped leaflets, and yellow flowers arranged in groups of ten to twenty, with seven fertile stamens in each flower. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant and in some areas of the world has become naturalized.

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

Senna septemtrionalis, commonly known as arsenic bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is native to Central America, the southern United States and Mexico, but is naturalised in many other countries. It is an erect shrub with pinnate leaves, with four or five pairs of egg-shaped leaflets, and yellow flowers arranged in groups of five to eight, usually with seven fertile stamens and four staminodes in each flower.

<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>Cassia javanica</i> Species of legume

Cassia javanica, also known as Java cassia, pink shower, apple blossom tree and rainbow shower tree, is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae. Its origin is in Southeast Asia, but it has been extensively grown in tropical areas worldwide as a garden tree owing to its beautiful crimson and pink flower bunches.

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

Senna acclinis, commonly known as rainforest cassia or brush senna, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas of eastern Australia. It is a shrub with pinnate leaves and bright golden yellow flowers in groups of two to five and long, narrow seed pods. It is similar to other species of Senna that are environmental weeds.

<i>Cassia roxburghii</i> Species of legume

Cassia roxburghii, the red cassia, Roxburgh's cassia or Ceylon senna, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and adjacent regions of Southeast Asia. It ranges throughout South India and Sri Lanka.

<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>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 cardiosperma</i> Species of legume

Senna cardiosperma is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the western half of Australia. It is an erect shrub or small tree with pinnate leaves, the number and shape of the leaflets depending on subspecies, yellow flowers with ten fertile stamens in each flower, and flat pods.

<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. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2018). "Senna surattensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T101164418A136088065. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T101164418A136088065.en . Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. "Senna surattensis (Burm.f.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  3. "Senna surattensis (Burm.f.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  4. "Senna surattensis". India Biodiversity Portal.
  5. "Senna surattensis". Flowers of India.
  6. "Senna surattensis". India Biodiversity Portal.
  7. 1 2 Senna surattensis (Burm. f.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby by National Parks Board. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Senna surattensis (golden senna) by Marianne Jennifer Datiles from Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 Senna surattensis (Burm.f.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby. by CSIRO. Retrieved 3 December, 2024.