Code
CASHS
Growth form
Broadleaf
Biological cycle
Perennial
Habitat
Terrestrial
CASHS
Growth form
Broadleaf
Biological cycle
Perennial
Habitat
Terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Cassia caracasana Jacq. |
| synonym | Cassia hirsuta L. |
| synonym | Cassia tomentosa Arn. |
| synonym | Cassia venenifera G.Mey. |
| synonym | Ditremexa hirsuta (L.)Britton & Wilson |
🗒 Common Names
| English |
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| Other |
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📚 Overview
Diagnostic Keys
The genus Cassia was splited in Cassia, Chamaecrista and Senna, according to the following criteria :
| Glands on the rachis and petiole | Petals | Stamens | Fruit | Bracteoles | Genus |
| absent | subequal | 10 | indehiscent | present | Cassia |
| absent or present | subequal | 10 or 7 fertil | indehiscent or dehiscent not elastic, valve not coiling | absent | Senna |
| present | unequal | 10 or5 fertil | elastically dehiscent, valves coiling | present | Chamaecrista |
Distribution of Cassia spp. in the following table :
| Old name | Valid name |
| Cassia absus L. | Chamaecrista absus (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia alata L. | Senna alata (L.) Roxb.. |
| Cassia fistula L. | Cassia fistula L. |
| Cassia hirsuta L. | Senna hirsuta (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia javanica L. | Cassia javanica L. |
| Cassia kirkii Oliv. | Chamaecrista kirkii (Oliv.) Standl. |
| Cassia mimosoides L. | Chamaecrista mimosoides (L.) Greene |
| Cassia nictitans L. | Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench |
| Cassia nigricans Vahl. | Chamaecrista nigricans (Vahl.) Greene |
| Cassia obtusifolia L. | Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia occidentalis L. | Senna occidentalis (L.) Link |
| Cassia rotundifolia Pers. | Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Pers.) Greene |
| Cassia siamea Lam. | Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia sieberiana DC | Cassia sieberiana DC |
| Cassia tora L. | Senna tora (L.) Roxb. |
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Description
General habit
Senna hirsuta is an erect, herbaceous, robust plant, becoming sub-woody with age, 0.5 m to 2.5 m tall, branched; young stems and leaves have an abundant pubescence.
Underground system
Taproot system
Stem
The young stems are densely hairy and become glabrous when they grow older.
Leaf
The leaves are alternate, compound, paripinnate, with 2 to 8 pairs of lanceolate leaflets, 10 to 25 cm long. They are carried by a hairy petiole, 4 to 6.5 cm long, with a conical gland near the base. At the base there are two linear filiform stipules, 8 to 12 mm long, pubescent. The leaflets are lanceolate, oval to oval-elliptic, with acuminate apex and rounded to slightly dissymmetric base, 2 to 10 cm long and 1 to 4 cm wide, with margin entire, dark green, both faces densely pubescent with long gray hairs.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is an axillary or terminal cluster, composed of 2 to 8 yellow flowers per raceme.
Flower
The flowers are irregular, with 5 yellow petals of about 1.5 cm long, with rounded top and 5 sepals, 6 to 8 mm long; they are carried by a pedicel, 1 to 2.5 cm long; fertile stamens are 6 or 7 in number, with long anthers, 3 to 8 mm.
Fruit
The fruit is a linear and angular pod, 6 to 18 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide, stiff, erect or more or less curved, densely covered with a whitish pubescence turning brown at maturity; it contains 50 to 80 seeds.
Seed
The seeds are ovate, about 3 mm in diameter and olive green in color.
Global description
Senna hirsuta is an erect, herbaceous plant, robust, becoming sub-woody with age, reaching 0.5 m to over 2.5 m high. The young stems, branches, leaves and pods have an abundant pubescence and a foul characteristic odor. The leaves are alternate, paripinnately compound with 2 to 8 pairs of lance-shaped leaflets. The inflorescence in axillary or terminal cluster is composed of 2 to 8 flowers per raceme. The flowers are made up of 5 yellow petals, about 1.5 cm long. The fruit is a linear and angular pod, 6 to 18 cm long, containing 50 to 80 ovoid seeds of about 3 mm in diameter.General habit
Senna hirsuta is an erect, herbaceous, robust plant, becoming sub-woody with age, 0.5 m to 2.5 m tall, branched; young stems and leaves have an abundant pubescence.
Underground system
Taproot system
Stem
The young stems are densely hairy and become glabrous when they grow older.
Leaf
The leaves are alternate, compound, paripinnate, with 2 to 8 pairs of lanceolate leaflets, 10 to 25 cm long. They are carried by a hairy petiole, 4 to 6.5 cm long, with a conical gland near the base. At the base there are two linear filiform stipules, 8 to 12 mm long, pubescent. The leaflets are lanceolate, oval to oval-elliptic, with acuminate apex and rounded to slightly dissymmetric base, 2 to 10 cm long and 1 to 4 cm wide, with margin entire, dark green, both faces densely pubescent with long gray hairs.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is an axillary or terminal cluster, composed of 2 to 8 yellow flowers per raceme.
Flower
The flowers are irregular, with 5 yellow petals of about 1.5 cm long, with rounded top and 5 sepals, 6 to 8 mm long; they are carried by a pedicel, 1 to 2.5 cm long; fertile stamens are 6 or 7 in number, with long anthers, 3 to 8 mm.
Fruit
The fruit is a linear and angular pod, 6 to 18 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide, stiff, erect or more or less curved, densely covered with a whitish pubescence turning brown at maturity; it contains 50 to 80 seeds.
Seed
The seeds are ovate, about 3 mm in diameter and olive green in color.
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No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Life cycle
Annual
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Asia: Senna hirsuta blooms throughout the year in Southeast Asia.
Madagascar: In sub humid zone, this species blooms from the end of the rainy season until June.
Mayotte : Senna hirsuta flowers from April to September and fruits from May to October.
New Caledonia: The short life cycle of this shrub (in 6 to 8 months) favors its use in agroforestry. The flowering period extends from January until the beginning of the fresh season, followed by fruiting.
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Cyclicity
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Senna hirsuta is an annual or multiannual species that reproduces by seeds. The seeds are spread by water, man during agricultural work and the animals that eat the pods.
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Morphology
Growth form
Erected
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Compound
Type of prefoliation
Leaf ratio medium
Latex
Without latex
Stem section
Round
Root type
Taproot
Hollow or solid stem
Solid stem
Stipule type
Lanceolate stipule
Leaf attachment type
with petiole
Fruit type
Pod
Pod type
Compressed pod in section
Cotyledon type
orbicular
truncate
Lamina base
rounded
acute
asymmetric
Lamina margin
ciliate
entire
Lamina apex
acute
acuminate
Upperface pilosity
Dense hairy
Upperface hair type
Long
Lowerface pilosity
Dense hairy
Lowerface hair type
Long
Lamina section
flat
Lamina Veination
in arc
Flower color
Yellow
Inflorescence type
Raceme
Axillary solitary flower
Stem pilosity
Dense hairy
Stem hair type
Hispidus
Short and long hairs mixed
Pubescent
Life form
Broadleaf plant
Look Alikes
| Leaflets with accuminate apex | Glabrous leaflets (Upper surface) | S. occidentalis |
| Densely pubescent leaflets | S. hirsuta | |
| Leaflets with rounded apex | One rod shaped gland on the rachis of the leaf | S. obtusifolia |
| Two rod shaped glands on the rachis of the leaf |
S. tora |
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Ecology
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Asia: Senna hirsuta is a naturalized species in Southeast Asia, in plains and hilly areas, it grows spontaneously in landfills, along roads, railway embankments, dry ditches and in secondary forest. It is found in gardens and fields as a weed.
Comoros: Senna hirsuta is present at medium altitude along the edge of road and in fallows.
Mauritius: Absent.
Madagascar: Senna hirsuta grows on alluvial soils, ferralitic soils more or less humiferous, fairly fertile, on sunny or more or less shaded region. It is a weed occurring in disturbed habitats and pastures down the slope, in fallows and perennial crops (fruit or perennial crops, growing cassava with long crop cycle) in more or less extensive systems. It is present on the roadside and around houses, on the edge of crop fields and canals, up to 1200 m altitude, on the East, Middle East Coast, Highlands and the Middle East, North-east
Mayotte: Senna hirsuta is an exotic species naturalized in secondarized environments of the littoral, in particular on the calcareous grounds and the back beaches. It mainly occurs in the north of the island.
New Caledonia: It is found along the roadsides, in the wasteland, and can be an occasional weed of crops.
Reunion: Absent.
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Miscellaneous Details
Toxicity
Senna hirsuta is little consumed by livestock because of its odor. Like many legumes, the seeds contain toxic principles leading to high levels of neuromuscular and digestive symptoms and anti-nutritional factors (tannins, phenols).
Senna hirsuta is little consumed by livestock because of its odor. Like many legumes, the seeds contain toxic principles leading to high levels of neuromuscular and digestive symptoms and anti-nutritional factors (tannins, phenols).
Thomas Le Bourgeois
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📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
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Origin
Senna hirsuta is native to Central and South America the USA.
Worldwide distribution
It is a worldwide species: Central and South America, Southern USA, tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, India, China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. It has been introduced in the Pacific to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. It is absent in the Mascarene.
Senna hirsuta is native to Central and South America the USA.
Worldwide distribution
It is a worldwide species: Central and South America, Southern USA, tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, India, China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. It has been introduced in the Pacific to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. It is absent in the Mascarene.
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Description
Geographical distibution
Madagascar
Comoros
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
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Global harmfulness
Senna hirsuta is naturalized in Southeast Asia where it is a crop weed.
Local harmfulness
Madagascar: Senna hirsuta is a weed rare and scarce in crops. It does not present any particular difficulty except if the intervention is too late. It is a weed species recently introduced and naturalized in humid and sub-humid areas of Madagascar; it remains an occasional weed of crops. It can be locally harmful in poorly maintained perennial crops on fallow land and pastures.
Mauritius: Absent.
Mayotte: S. hirsuta is an infrequent weed, present in only 2% of cultivated plots. It is mainly found in fruit crops.
New Caledonia: It is a secondary weed of pasture due to a low frequency of presence.
Reunion: Absent.
South Africa: Senna hirsuta invades disturbed areas such as roadsides, fences, stream banks, pastures and the edges of tropical forests. It is a competitive weed in subtropical areas (summer rainfall).
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No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Uses
Food: The young leaves and youg pods of Senna hirsuta can be eaten as a vegetable; the seeds are sometimes used as a coffee substitute.
Agricultural: Senna hirsuta can be used as shade plant for young coffee plants. It is a fast-growing species that can also be used as ameliorative plant of soil or as agroforestry species to protect and improve the slopes.
Medicinal: The leaves are used medicinally for treating kidney disorders and herpes. An infusion is an effective remedy for renal calculi. An infusion of the leaves is applied externally to treat skin disorders and cracked nipples. The root is tonic. A tincture of the root is rubbed onto rheumatic areas. The leaf contains derived anthracenes. The seed contains a bi-anthraquinone and a tri-terpenoid, which may prove medicinally important.
Agricultural: Senna hirsuta can be used as shade plant for young coffee plants. It is a fast-growing species that can also be used as ameliorative plant of soil or as agroforestry species to protect and improve the slopes.
Medicinal: The leaves are used medicinally for treating kidney disorders and herpes. An infusion is an effective remedy for renal calculi. An infusion of the leaves is applied externally to treat skin disorders and cracked nipples. The root is tonic. A tincture of the root is rubbed onto rheumatic areas. The leaf contains derived anthracenes. The seed contains a bi-anthraquinone and a tri-terpenoid, which may prove medicinally important.
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Management
Local control
Madagascar: On the east coast of Madagascar, Senna hirsuta is cleaned with angady or machete in perennial crops or annual crops in rotation with fallow.
New Caledonia: Although Senna hirsuta is uncommon, the control of this small, unpalatable woody species is advised as soon as it appears as isolated stands, as it can become difficult to control on larger stands. Plants are hard to tear. Herbicides on regrowth may be applied 3 to 4 weeks after cutting. Like the species of the same genus, it is sensitive to the picloram + 2,4-D mixture and the triclopyr to be applied before flowering by spraying.
Madagascar: On the east coast of Madagascar, Senna hirsuta is cleaned with angady or machete in perennial crops or annual crops in rotation with fallow.
New Caledonia: Although Senna hirsuta is uncommon, the control of this small, unpalatable woody species is advised as soon as it appears as isolated stands, as it can become difficult to control on larger stands. Plants are hard to tear. Herbicides on regrowth may be applied 3 to 4 weeks after cutting. Like the species of the same genus, it is sensitive to the picloram + 2,4-D mixture and the triclopyr to be applied before flowering by spraying.
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No Data
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
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Thomas Le Bourgeois
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References
- JSTOR https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/cassia.hirsuta
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
- Blanfort, V., F. Desmoulins, J. Prosperi, T. Le Bourgeois, R. Guiglion and P. Grard (2010). AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Montpellier, France, IAC, Cirad. (http://idao.cirad.fr/content/advenpac/especes/c/cashs/cashs_fr.html)
- Invasives South Africa https://invasives.org.za/fact-sheet/hairy-senna/
Information Listing > References
- JSTOR https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/cassia.hirsuta
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 487 p.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
- Blanfort, V., F. Desmoulins, J. Prosperi, T. Le Bourgeois, R. Guiglion and P. Grard (2010). AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Montpellier, France, IAC, Cirad. (http://idao.cirad.fr/content/advenpac/especes/c/cashs/cashs_fr.html)
- Invasives South Africa https://invasives.org.za/fact-sheet/hairy-senna/
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Senna%2520hirsuta
Thomas Le Bourgeois
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No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Fabales |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Genus | Senna |
| Species | Senna hirsuta (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
