Family:
Fabaceae Lindl.
Genus:
Senna Mill.

Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

This species is accepted, and its native range is Ethiopia to S. Tropical Africa.

[ILDIS]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zambezian wooded grassland, Somalia-Masai woodland, Somalia-Masai wooded grasslands., Zambezian woodland
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub/Tree
Vernacular
At Tora, Rata Tora

[FZ]

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit
Rather soft-wooded shrub, 2–4 m or more tall, unpleasant-smelling when fresh.
Morphology Branches
Branchlets dark brown, sparsely pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves paripinnate; stipules 10–15 × 8–11 mm, broadly ovate, cordate at base, acuminate at apex, persistent; petioles 1.7–3.5(8.5) cm long, pubescent; rachis 10–25 cm long, pubescent; leaflets in 6–16 pairs, opposite, 21–55 × 6–20 mm, oblong, asymmetrically cuneate at base, acute and mucronate at apex, pubescent above and beneath.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence an axillary raceme, axis 22–34 cm long; bracts present in bud, falling before anthesis, 10–16 × 8–13 mm, broadly ovate, base cordate, apex acute, apiculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, c.13 × 5 mm, elliptic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, yellow, with prominent darker veins particularly when dry, c.20 × 10 mm, broadly elliptic to obovate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, seven of them probably fertile, two of these with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.10 mm long, five with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.5 mm long; three probably infertile with filaments c.2 mm long and reduced anthers.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary c.12 mm long, densely pubescent; stipe c.5 mm long; style c.12 mm long, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods blackish, 8–10.4 × 1.8–2.4 cm, oblong, corrugated on the flat surface, very tardily dehiscent along both sutures.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds dull brown, 6.5–7.5 × 3.5–5 mm, oblong, flattened, apiculate at the proximal end, with a narrowly obovate to oblong areole in the centre of each face.

[ILDIS]
Use
Chemical products, Environmental, Forage, Medicine, Toxins

Native to:

Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Assam, Benin, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, China South-Central, Cuba, Ecuador, Gambia, Hainan, Hawaii, India, Iraq, Jawa, KwaZulu-Natal, Madagascar, New Guinea, New South Wales, Northern Provinces, Pakistan, Queensland, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Yemen

Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Apr 7, 2008 Schunke Vigo, Jose [14690], Peru K001041937 No
Tanner, R. [497], Tanzania Cassia didymobotrya 15675.000 No

First published in Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 467 (1982)

Accepted by

  • Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Balkrishna, A. (2018). Flora of Morni Hills (Research & Possibilities): 1-581. Divya Yoga Mandir Trust.
  • Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). 61. Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2): 1-218. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2012). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 4: 1-431. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Du Puy, D.J., Labat, N.-N., Rabevohitra, R., Villiers, J.-F., Bosser, J. & Moat, J. (2002). The Leguminosae of Madagascar: 1-737. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Filimban, F.Z. & al. (2014). Studies in the flora of Arabia: XXX Edinburgh Journal of Botany 71: 117-132.
  • Fischer, E., Rembold, K., Althof, A. & Obholzer, J. (2010). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Kakamega forest, Western province, Kenya Journal of East African Natural History 99: 129-226.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Jørgensen, P.M. & León-Yánes, S. (eds.) (1999). Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador: 1-1181. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
  • Jørgensen, P.M., Nee, M.H. & Beck., S.G. (eds.) (2013). Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 127: 1-1741. Missouri Botanical Garden.
  • Kumar, S. & Sane, P.V. (2003). Legumes of South Asia. A Checklist: 1-536. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lepschi, B. & Monro, A. (Project Coordinators) (2014). Australian Plant Census (APC) Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria. http://www.anbg.gov.au/chah/apc/index.html.
  • Lock, J.M. & Ford, C.S. (2004). Legumes of Malesia a Check-List: 1-295. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lock, J.M. (1989). Legumes of Africa a check-list: 1-619. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
  • Smith, A.C. (1985). Flora Vitiensis Nova. A new flora for Fiji (Spermatophytes only) 3: 1-758. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai.
  • Standley, P.C. & Steyermark, J.A. (1946). Flora of Guatemala Fieldiana Botany New Series 24(5): 1-502. Field Museum of Natural History.
  • Wagner, W.L., Herbst, D.R. & Sohmer, S.H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, rev. ed., 1: 1-988. University of Hawai'i Press, Bishop Museum Press.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2010). Flora of China 10: 1-642. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2012). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 4: 1-431. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Du Puy, D.J., Labat, N.-N., Rabevohitra, R., Villiers, J.-F., Bosser, J. & Moat, J. (2002). The Leguminosae of Madagascar: 1-737. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Filimban, F.Z. & al. (2014). Studies in the flora of Arabia: XXX Edinburgh Journal of Botany 71: 117-132.
  • Fischer, E., Rembold, K., Althof, A. & Obholzer, J. (2010). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Kakamega forest, Western province, Kenya Journal of East African Natural History 99: 129-226.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Jones, M. (1991). A checklist of Gambian plants: 1-33. Michael Jones, The Gambia College.
  • Jørgensen, P.M. & León-Yánes, S. (eds.) (1999). Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador: 1-1181. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
  • Kumar, S. & Sane, P.V. (2003). Legumes of South Asia. A Checklist: 1-536. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lepschi, B. & Monro, A. (Project Coordinators) (2014). Australian Plant Census (APC) Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria. http://www.anbg.gov.au/chah/apc/index.html.
  • Lock, J.M. & Ford, C.S. (2004). Legumes of Malesia a Check-List: 1-295. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Townsend, C.C. (1974). Flora of Iraq 3: 1-662. Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform, Baghdad.
  • Wagner, W.L., Herbst, D.R. & Sohmer, S.H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, rev. ed., 1: 1-988. University of Hawai'i Press, Bishop Museum Press.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2010). Flora of China 10: 1-642. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

International Legume Database and Information Service

  • Ali, S. I. (1973). Flora of Pakistan, No. 54 Caesalpiniaceae. Karachi:Univ Karac
  • Brenan, J. P. M. (1967). Caesalp. In: Flora Trop. East Africa. Milne-Redhead & Polhill
  • Dale, I. R. & Greenway, P. J. (1961). Kenya Trees and Shrubs
  • DeWit, H. C. D. (1955). Webbia 11:197-292. Revision of Gen. Cassia as occ. in Malaysia
  • Du Puy, D. J. et al. (2002). The Leguminosae of Madagascar. RBG Kew.
  • Horn, P. E. (1988). Herbarium References
  • Kumar, S. & Sane PV (2003). Legumes of South Asia: a check-list. RBG Kew.
  • Robyns, W. (Ed.) (1952). Flore du Congo Belge, Vol. 3. Mimosoideae, Caesalpinoideae
  • Robyns, W. (Ed.) (1952). Flore du Congo Belge, Vol. 3. Mimosoideae, Caesalpinoideae.
  • Ross, J. H. (1982). Caesalpinoideae. In: Flora Southern Africa 16, pt. 1. Ross. J. H.
  • Rudd, V. E. (1991). Flora of Ceylon 7: 34-107. Caesalpinioideae
  • Sanjappa, M. (1992). Legumes of India. Dehra Dun: Bishen Singh Mahendra...
  • Singh, V. (2001). Monograph on Indian Subtribe Cassiinae (Caesalpiniaceae)
  • Verdcourt, B. & Trump, E. C. (1969). Common Poisonous Plants of East Africa
  • Verdcourt, B. (1979). A Manual of New Guinea Legumes. Office of Forests, Lae, PNG

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    Flora Zambesiaca
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

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