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Senna

Image by Ajinkya Gadave

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Images by Dinesh Valke
 

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Senna multijuga (Rich.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

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Images by Muthu Karthick, N.

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Images by Surajit Koley 

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Key to Indian Species of Cassia Complex (Cassia, Chamaecrista, Senna)

1aThe longest filament (or filaments of three anterior stamens) sigmoidally curved, longest more than 2.5 cm long2
1bThe longest filament straight, less than 1 cm long8
   
2aFlowers yellow or golden yellow3
2bFlowers pink, reddish to white4
   
3aLeaflets less than 10 pairs, longer than 5 cm, glabrous on both surfacesCassia fistula
3bLeaflets 10 or more pairs, shorter than 5 cm, puberulent on both surfaces; petals 11-15 mm longCassia moschata
   
4aFilaments of 3 longer stamens not swollen in the middle; pedicels less than 2 cm long; petals 10-15 mm long5
4bFilaments of 3 longer stamens swollen in the middle; pedicels more than 2.5 cm long; petals usually longer than 15 mm6
   
5aPod more than 35 cm long with pulp inside, usually broader than 2.5 cmCassia grandis
5bPod less than 35 cm long with dry pith inside, usually narrower than 2.5 cmCassia roxburghii
   
6aStipules reniform, about 2.5 cm broad, cuspidate; leaflets velvety on both surfaces; ovary glabrousCassia renigera
6bStipules less than 2 cm broad; leaflets glabrous or silky beneath only; ovary hairy7
   
7aStipules 12-15 mm long, leafy; leaflets usually rounded or obtuse at tip; calyx dark red; petals 2.5-3.5 cm long, pink to dark redCassia javanica ssp. javanica
7bStipules 5 mm long, narrow, not leafy; leaflets acute at tip; calyx Green; petals 1.2-2.5 cm long, pink to nearly white, turning yellowCassia javanica ssp. nodosa
   
8aOvary stalk less than 0.9 mm long, fruitless than 9 cm long; braceoles present; legume elastically coiling9
8bOvary stalk more than 0.9 mm long, fruit more than 9 cm long; bracteoles absent; legume not elastically coiling14
   
9aLeaflets 2 pairs; one linear gland present between each pair or only one pair of leaflets; leaflets broader than 1 cm; stamens 5(2-7)Chamaecrista absus
9bLeaflets more than 2 pairs; glands present on petiole below leaflets; Leaflets linear, narrower than 1 cm; stamens 10 or 4-510
   
10aGland on petiole stalked, just below the lowest pair of leaflets11
10bGland on petiole sessile12
   
11aStamens 5; pedicel less than 7 mm long; sepals 5-6 mm longChamaecrista pumila
11bStamens 10; pedicel 10-15 mm long; sepals 6-8 mm longChamaecrista kleinii
   
12aLeaflets usually in 30-60 pairsChamaecrista mimosoides
12bLeaflets usually in less than 30 pairs13
   
13aStamens 4-5; leaflets 5-10 mm long; stem with short curved hairs leaves less than 6 cm longChamaecrista nomame
13bStamens 10, sometimes 7; leaflets 8-14 mm long; stem with spreading hairs; leaves longer than 6 cmChamaecrista leschenaultiana
   
14aLeaves without glands15
14bLeaves with glands on rachis or petiole23
   
15aPod cylindrical or 4-angled; leaflets 10-16 pairs, 3-9 cm long; pod 15-30 cm long, 1 cm thickSenna spectabilis
15bPod compressed16
   
16aLeaflets 5 cm or more long; pod wingedSenna alata
16bLeaflets less than 5 cm long; pod not winged17
   
17aPod elliptic-oblong to falcate, less than 7 cm long18
17bPod linear-oblong, longer than 7 cm20
   
18aLeaflets narrower usually less than 10 mm broad, acute; pod 3-7 cm long, oblong to subfalcate, valves not crestedSenna alexandrina
18bLeaflets broader usually broader than 10 mm, obtuse; pod 3-6 cm long, falcate, valves with longitudinal ridge of raised crests19
   
19aRaceme 10-25 cm long, longer than subtending leaves; sepals 9-13 mm long; petals 12-20 mm longSenna italica ssp. italica
19bRaceme less than 10 cm long, shorter than subtending leaves; sepals 6-8 mm long; petals 8-9 mm longSenna italica ssp. micrantha
   
20aPod 15-30 cm long, 1-2 cm broad; stipules minute, subulate, less than 3 mm longSenna siamea
20bPod shorter than 15 cm; stipules minute or larger21
   
21aInflorescence subspicate; pedicel 5-7 mm long; stipules foliaceous, 1.5-2.5 cm long; shrub; pod piloseSenna didymobotrya
21bInflorescence paniculate; pedicel longer than 10 mm; pod glabrous22
   
22aShrub; stipules minute, less than 3 mm long; leaves 10-15 cm long; pod 7-12 cm longSenna montana
22bTree; stipules foliaceous, about 9 mm long with filiform tip; leaves 15-30 cm long; pod 12-15 cm longSenna timoriensis
   
23aGlands on rachis between pairs of leaflets, none on petiole24
23bGland on petiole, none on rachis between pairs of leaflets38
   
24aPod terete or subterete, broader than 10 mm25
24bPod compressed or if terete then less than 8 mm broad27
   
25aLeaflets 2 pairs; gland between lower pair of leaflets; petals 2-3 cm longSenna bacillaris
25bLeaflets 3-5 pairs; petals 1-2 cm long26
   
26aGland only between lowest pairs of leaflets; leaflets rounded or subacuteSenna bicapsularis
26bGlands between leaflets of each pair; leaflets acuminateSenna septemtrionalis
   
27aStipules reniform, broader than 7 mm, persistentSenna auriculata
27bStipules linear less than 5 mm broad, caducous28
   
28aLeaflets 12 or more pairsSenna multijuga
28bLeaflets less than 12 pairs29
   
29aPods 1-2 cm wide30
29bPods less than 1 cm wide33
   
30aGlands clavate or sessile, between all or most pairs of leaflets, pod tomentose or glabrous31
30bGlands clavate usually between lowest two pairs of leaflets; pod glabrous32
   
31aYoung branches tomentose; leaflets 4-8 pairs, densely tomentose especially beneath, oblong to elliptic, 2-3 cm long, glands sessile; pod 10-14 cm long, tomentose, 50-90 seeded.Senna glandulosa
31bYoung branches glabrous; leaflets 3-5 pairs, almost glabrous, ovate to ovate elliptic, 4-11 cm long; glands clavate or conical; pod 6-10 cm long, glabrous.Senna floribunda
   
32aLeaflets 4-6 pairs; leaves 15-30 cm long; stalk of pod 10-20 mm longSenna sulfurea
32bLeaflets 6-9 pairs; leaves 10-15 cm long; stalk of pod 5-7 mm longSenna surattensis
   
33aLeaves with 5-15 pairs of leaflets, generally clustered 3-5 together at nodes; leaflets 4-10mm long; pod 8-15 cm long.Senna polyphylla
33bLeaves with 2-7 pairs of leaflets, occurring singly at nodes; leaflets longer than 15 mm34
   
34aLeaflets 4-7 pairs, 2-3 cm long; flowers in pairs in leaf axils; pod 6-8 cm longSenna pallida
34bLeaflets 2-5 pairs; flowers more than two in short racemes35
   
35aLeaflets ovate or oblong, not obovate; Leaflets 2-3 pairs, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 2.5-5 cm long; pod 7-9 mm broadSenna corymbosa
35bPods obovate; leaflets 3-5 pairs.36
   
36aLeaflets 4 pairs (3-5); glands between all or lowest pair of leaflets; pod 3-5 cm long, 5-10 seededSenna uniflora
36bLeaflets 3 pairs glands between lowest 1-2 pairs; pod longer than 10 cm; more than 20 seeded37
   
37aGlands 2, between lowest two pairs of leaflets; sepals glabrous; petals 8-12 mm long; anthers of three large stamens rounded at tip; pedicel 12-15 mm long in fruitSenna tora
37bGland only one between lowest pair of leaflets; sepals hairy; petals 12-15 mm long; anthers of three large stamens narrowed at tip; pedicel 30 mm long in fruitSenna obtusifolia
   
38aPlants hirsute; leaves with 3-5 pairs of leaflets; gland subclavate, near the base of petiole; pod 12-15 cm long, 3-7 mm wide, hirsute, linear, curvedSenna hirsuta
38bPlants glabrous or subglabrous; Leaves with 4-10 pairs of leaflets; gland clavate or hemispheric; fruit shorter than 13 cm, glabrous at maturity39
   
39bGland at base of petiole, sessile, hemispherical; leaflets 3-6 pairs; pod 10-13 cm long, compressed, glabrous, often slightly curved, 20-30 seeded, torulose when matureSenna occidentalis
39bGland situated 3-10 mm above the base of petiole, clavate; leaflets 3-12 pairs; pod 5-10 cm long, somewhat inflated, puberulent when young, glabrous when mature, not curved, 30-40 seeded, not torulose when mature40
   
40aLeaflets 4-12 pairs, 4-9 cm long, acute or mucronate, branches not purple; pod 9-10 cm long   Senna sophera var. sophera
40bLeaflets 3-5 pairs, less than 3 cm long, obtuse at apex; branches slender, purple; pod 5-8 cm longSenna sophera var. purpurea

Cassia

  1. Cassia bakeriana Craib.
  2. Cassia fistula L.
  3. Cassia grandis L.f.
  4. Cassia javanica var. javanica
  5. Cassia javanica var. nodosa (Cassia nodosa Buch.-Ham.; C. javanica var. indochinensis Gagnep.)
  6. Cassia moschata Kunth
  7. Cassia x nealiae Irwin & Barneby
  8. Cassia renigera
  9. Cassia roxburghii DC. (Cassia marginata Roxb.)

Chamaecrista

  1. Chamaecrista absus (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia absus L.)
  2. Chamaecrista kleinii (Wight & Arn.) V.Singh (Cassia kleinii Wight. & Arn.)
  3. Chamaecrista leschenaultiana (DC.) Degener (Cassia wallichiana DC.)
  4. Chamaecrista mimosoides L. (Cassia mimosoides L.)
  5. Chamaecrista nomame (Sieber) H.Ohashi (Cassia hochstetteri Ghesq.)
  6. Chamaecrista pumila (Lam.) K.Larsen (Cassia pumila Lam.)

Senna

  1. Senna alata (L.) Roxb. (Cassia alata L.)
  2. Senna alexandrina Mill. (Cassia senna L.)
  3. Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. (Cassia auriculata L.)
  4. Senna bacillaris (L.f.) IRWIN & Barneby (Cassia bacillaris L.f.)
  5. Senna bicapsularis (L.) Roxb. (Cassia bicapsularis L.)
  6. Senna corymbosa (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia corymbosa Lam.)
  7. Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia didymobotrya Fresen.)
  8. Senna floribunda (Cav.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia floribunda Cav.)
  9. Senna hirsuta (L.) Irwin & Barneby (Cassia hirsuta L.)
  10. Senna italica Mill. subsp. italic (Cassia obovata Collad; C. obtusa Roxb.)
  11. Senna italica subsp. micrantha (Brenan) Lock (Cassia italica subsp. micrantha Brenan)
  12. Senna montana (Roth) V. Singh (Cassia montana Roth; Cassia setigera DC.) 
  13. Senna multiglandulosa (Jacq.) Irwin & Barneby (Cassia tomentosa L.f.)
  14. Senna multijuga (Rich.) Irwin & Barneby (Cassia multijuga Rich.)
  15. Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia obtusifolia L.)
  16. Senna occidentalis (L.) Link (Cassia occidentalis (L.) Rose)
  17. Senna pallida  (Vahl) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia biflora L.)
  18. Senna polyphylla (Jacq.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby  (Cassia polyphylla Jacq.)
  19. Senna septemtrionalis (Viviani) Irwin & Barneby
  20. Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia siamea Lam.)
  21. Senna sophera (L.) Roxb. (Cassia sophera L.)
  22. Senna sophera var. purpurea (Lindl.) V.Singh (Cassia purpurea Roxb. ex Lindl.)
  23. Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia spectabilis DC.)
  24. Senna sulfurea (Collad.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia sulfurea Collad; C. glauca Lam.)
  25. Senna surattensis (Burm.f.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia surattensis Burm.f.)
  26. Senna timoriensis (DC.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (Cassia timoriensis DC.)
  27. Senna tora (L.) Roxb. (Cassia tora L.)
  28. Senna uniflora (Mill.) Irwin & Barneby (Cassia uniflora Mill.)
 
References: 
 

Chamaecrista absus,
C. auriculata (now Senna auriculata)
Cassia fistula,
C. italica (now Senna italica),
Chamaecrista kleinii,
C. occidentalis (now Senna occidentalis),
Chamaecrista pumila,
Cassia siamea (now S. siamea),
C. senna (now Senna alexandrina)
C. sophera (now Senna shophera)
C. tora (now Senna tora)

 

Pl. go through Senna (‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎Fabaceae (Leguminosae)‎) page with images of species in efloraofindia.

If you find any incorrect identification, pl. let us know. If anybody can send images of other species of this genera (for incorporation in the website), if any, or can identify unidentified images, it will be really nice.

  
Cassia vs Senna : 2 posts by 2 authors.
What is the difference between Genus Cassia and Senna?
the name of Cassia siamea has been changed to Senna siamea. initially i got a clue that the out of 10 stamens in Cassia, 3 are staminodes while in Senna all the 10 stamens are functional. but this is not the case with every Senna. 
second clue was that the pods in senna genus are flat as in Senna siamea but that point is also not universal.
So what are the points in distinguishing the two genera?  are there any morphological characters or are they distinguished on the basis of some molecular characteristics? 
Can anyone please guide me in this context?

Cassia are having cylindric pod, seeds are separated by horizontal septum. Cassia spectabilis is having cylindric pod, but it is kept under Senna. Most of the Senna are herbs /shrubs.

Updated on December 24, 2024

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