Cassia afrofistula Brenan

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 1.2–6 m. high (? more).

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets minutely puberulous (in East Africa), soon glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole and rhachis eglandular, the latter 7–25 cm. long. Leaflets in 4–9 pairs, petiolulate, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 2–10 cm. long, (1–)1.5–5.2 cm. wide, obtuse or subacute at apex, in Flora area glabrous except at extreme base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a usually erect large pyramidal terminal panicle up to 30–40 cm. long or more, composed of terminal and lateral racemes (8–)15–38 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts all falling while the flower-buds are young, 4–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals bright yellow, 1.5–3 cm. long, 1–2 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10; filaments of 3 lower each with an S-bend near base and an abrupt conspicuous swelling a little more than half-way along their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods subcylindrical or very slightly compressed, usually ± attenuate at base and apex, 20–60 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. in diameter, glabrous, blackish-brown, transversely but not longitudinally partitioned within.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds embedded in pulp, brown or blackish-brown, 6–8 mm. in diameter, 4 mm. thick.

Figures

Fig. 11, p. 63.

Habitat

Probably coastal evergreen bushland; common in the dry coral areas of Zanzibar and Pemba (U.O.P.Z.: 175); 0–90 m.

Distribution

K1 K7 P T3 T6 T8 Z

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 1–4(6) m tall.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets brown, longitudinally ridged, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate; stipules not seen, probably very early caducous; petiole 1.9–8.5 cm long, glabrous; rachis 9–19 cm long, glabrous; petiolules 2–4 mm long; leaflets opposite to subopposite, in 5–6(8) pairs, 2.5–7.2 × 1.6–3.4 cm, ovate to broadly ovate, somewhat asymmetric, apex acute to rounded, base asymmetrically cuneate, glabrous above, glabrous to sparsely pubescent beneath; venation slightly prominent on both surfaces.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences of axillary and terminal racemes, held erect or horizontally, often branched; axis glabrous or pubescent; bracts c.6 × 1 mm, linear, puberulous; bracteoles c.2 × 0.5 mm, linear, puberulous; bracts and bracteoles falling well before anthesis; pedicels 2.5–4 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 5, 9–11 × 4–6 mm, ovate to elliptic, sparsely appressed-pubescent outside, glabrous inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 16–20 × 10–14 mm including a 2 mm long claw, obovate-elliptic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10; filaments glabrous, anthers pubescent, 3 stamens with filaments c.16 mm long, sigmoidally curved in the lower third, abruptly swollen above the middle, anthers c.4 mm long; 4 with straight filaments 6–7 mm long, anthers c.4 mm long; 3 with filaments either straight or helically coiled towards the apex, anthers c.1.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 16–24 × 1–1.5 mm, linear, pubescent, multiovulate; stigmatic chamber lateral, fringed with hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod blackish, 40–44 × 1–1.2 cm, cylindrical, terete, many-seeded; pod wall easily crushed between finger and thumb.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed dark brown, shiny, c.6 × 6 × 3 mm, almost circular, flattened, enclosed in pulp.