Senna alata
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Itimbiri River, DRC
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| Synonyms: |
Cassia alata L. |
| Common names: | Candlestick cassia (English) Empress candle plant (English) Ringworm plant (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Introduced and naturalised |
| Description: |
Shrub up to c. 3 m high, sometimes taller. Branchlets olive-brown, finely ribbed. Leaves paripinnate, up to 75 cm long; leaflets in up to 12 pairs, oblong, 6-11 cm long,hairless above, sparsely and minutely hairy beneath; stipules asymmetrically triangular, persistent. Inflorescences in erect axillary dnse racemes, up to 25 cm long. Flowers golden yellow with darker veins; bracts broadly ovate, c. 2.1 cm long, orange, most prominent before the flowers open; stamens 10. Pods 4-winged, 12-16 cm long, shiny dark brown to black. |
| Type location: |
Cultivated plant |
| Notes: | Used as a remedy against ringworm and other skin problems. |
| Derivation of specific name: | alata: winged, referring to the pods. |
| Habitat: | In disturbed and cultivated ground. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Native to South America. Widely cultivated in Africa for its medicinal properties and occasionally naturalized. |
| FZ divisions: | T |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Monday 29 October 2018 |
| Literature: |
Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Page 152. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 265. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 132. |
Other sources of information about Senna alata:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Senna alataFlora of the DRC: Senna alata
Flora of Malawi: Senna alata
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Senna alata
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Senna alata
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Senna alata
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Senna alataAfrican Plant Database: Senna alata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Senna alata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Senna alata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Senna alata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Senna alata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Senna alata
JSTOR Plant Science: Senna alata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Senna alata
Plants of the World Online: Senna alata
Tropicos: Senna alata
Wikipedia: Senna alata