Senna italica Mill. (Syn: Cassia italica (Mill.) Spreng.; Cassia aschrek Forssk.; Cassia italica subsp. italica (Mill.) Spreng.; Cassia ligustrina Mill.; Cassia obovata Collad.; Cassia obtusa Roxb.; Cassia porturegalis Bancroft; Cassia porturegalis Bancr.; Senna obovata (Collad.) Link; Senna obtusa Roxb.; Cassia aschrek Forssk.; Cassia italica subsp. italica (Mill.) Spreng.; Cassia obovata Collad.);
Italian senna, Port Royal senna, senna baladi;
India (N); Andhra Pradesh; Daman ; Delhi; Diu ; Gujarat; Haryana; Himachal Pradesh ; Jammu-Kashmir ; Karnataka ; Kerala ; Madhaya Pradesh ; Maharashtra; Punjab; Tamil Nadu & other countries as per ILDIS ;
Senna italica, Senegal senna, Italian senna, or Port Royal 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 dye known as “neutral henna”. In many regions, this plant is cultivated commercially and medicinally.[1] Individuals of this species are deciduous, perennial herbs, and shrubs up to 60 cm tall. The plant is woody throughout. Taproots are present in this plant. Stems are solid, usually less than 2 m tall. These stems or young twigs are glabrous or sparsely glabrous and sparsely to densely hairy.[2] This species has compound leaves with pinnate veination. There are approximately 4-6 leaflets per leaf, which are arranged spirally and alternately. The leaflets are elliptical, and shortly hairy on both sides. There is a small reddish gland between each leaflet pair on the rhachis of arachoides subspecies.[3] The stipules are usually have lanceolate-triangular shape. They are approximately 3–9 mm long and early spreading –deflexed.
Flowering usually takes place during rainy season, but flowers can appear throughout the year in moist conditions. Senna italica is usually propagated by seeds. Treating the seed by abrasion improves germination.[1] Flowers of Senna italica, are actinomorphic and the inflorescence takes the form of axillary racemes, which are about 2–25 cm long. Petals of these flowers are usually yellow or orange in color, up to 13 mm long and are of obovate shape. Rhombic to ovate bracts are conspicuously present, but very small in size (up to 5mm long).[2] The flower of Senegal senna is bisexual, zygomorphic and 5-merous. It usually has 10 stamens (lower 2 are the largest; 5 are medium sized; 3 are short and sterile), Style up to 6 mm long and a superior ovary with short and stiff hair.[1] Senegal senna has freely dehiscent fruits. Fruits are oblong or ellipsoidal; they are strongly curved, falcate, bent or lunate shaped. The fruit may contain as many as 11 seeds. The seeds have elliptical line or depression and are wrinkled or rugose. Seeds are usually of olive, green or black color.[2]
Senna italica can be seen in grassland of the drier regions of tropical Africa, from sea level up to 1850m altitude. Usually, it is found close to streams and in sandy and disturbed habitats, such as, waste places about towns and country dwellings, abandoned gardens, roadsides etc. This plant is adapted to warm temperature and may grow throughout the year.[4] Senna italica is known as the host of the root lesion nematode. Serious termite attacks are observed during perennial cultivation.[1]
(from Wikipedia)
Shrub for ID : 240511 : AK-3: Taken at Muscat, Oman on the 3rd of Sept, 2010. Small shrubs. Some Cassia?
Senna italica Mill. subsp. italica syn C. italica (Mill.) Spreng. syn C. obtusa Roxb. of Caesalpiniaceae. This plant also occurs in monsoon in dry areas of peninsular India. In Maharashtra it is known as Bhui-Tarwad. Yes i agree with .. its Senna italica Mill. [syn. Cassia italica (Mill.) Spreng.]
but I don’t think so there is need to write subsp. italica unless someone is writing some other subsp. under the same species.. Senna italica Mill. : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (3)
Senna italica Mill. (Cassia obtusa Roxb.) from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Thanks …, never seen this taxon..
Requesting a herb id: 17112010 asp 01: Requesting for id of attached photos, resembles Senna uniflora. Date/Time- 14.11.2010/ 10.15AM Location- Place, Altitude, GPS- Kotebetta, Nagamangala taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka
Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type- as plains, foothills of a small hillock Plant Habit- Tree/ Shrub/ Climber/ Herb- Trailing herb Height/Length- hardly 60 cm in length Senna italica ssp. micrantha, i guess
References: The Plant List Ver. 1.1 ILDIS GRIN Flora of Pakistan Wikipedia India Biodiversity Portal Henna for Hair : Cassia Obovata Senna italica | Henriette’s Herbal Homepage Flora of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India (Description & Keys- C. siamea (now S. siamea), C. fistula, C. pumila, C. kleinii, C. absus, C. tora (now S. tora), C. auriculata (now S. auriculata), C. occidentalis (now S. occidentalis), C. italica (now S. italica), C. senna (now S. alexandrina) & C. sophera (now S. shophera)) |