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Fabaceae
Senna

not marked as a favorite taxon *Senna obtusifolia (Linnaeus) H.S. Irwin & Barneby. Common name: Sicklepod, Coffeeweed. Phenology: Jul-Sep; Aug-Nov. Habitat: Fields (especially soybean fields), disturbed areas. Distribution: Probably native of the New World Tropics. The species is now pantropical.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Neotropics

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, FNA11.1, GrPl, Il, K4, Mo2, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, SE3, Tn, Va, WH3, Irwin & Barneby (1982), Isely (1998), Robertson & Lee (1976); = Cassia obtusifolia L. — Bah, RAB, Tx, W, Isely (1975); = n/a — Tat; < Cassia tora L. — F, G, S13, misapplied; < Emelista tora (L.) Britton & Rose — S, misapplied; >< Senna tora (L.) Roxb. — NS. Basionym: Cassia obtusifolia L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Senna obtusifolia - FNA11.1

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image #1 of Senna obtusifolia© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Senna obtusifolia© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Senna obtusifolia© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Senna obtusifolia© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Senna obtusifolia© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Senna obtusifolia© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, bushy annual of fields (especially soybean), roadsides and other disturbed habitats. This species probably originated in the New World Tropics.

Stems: Stems light green and often ridged, branched; lower part of the stem often sprawls along the ground.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, pinnately divided into 2--4 pairs of oblong-oval leaflets with bluntly rounded tips, each to about 1½ in. long (terminal leaflet pair largest), pale beneath and smooth on both surfaces. Close to the lowest pair of leaflets is a nectar gland resembling a small brown spike.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers single or in pairs, gently nodding on stalks arising from upper leaf axils; rach flower yellow, about 1 in. wide, consisting of 5 rounded and usually unequal petals, 5 light green folded sepals and 10 stamens.

Fruits: Fruit a curved, slender, 4-sided pod that begins forming before petals drop.

Comments: The foliage has a slightly rank odor.

Height: 1-2 1/2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect, bushy annual of fields (especially soybean), roadsides and other disturbed habitats. This species probably originated in the New World Tropics.

stems: Stems light green and often ridged, branched; lower part of the stem often sprawls along the ground.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, pinnately divided into 2--4 pairs of oblong-oval leaflets with bluntly rounded tips, each to about 1½ in. long (terminal leaflet pair largest), pale beneath and smooth on both surfaces. Close to the lowest pair of leaflets is a nectar gland resembling a small brown spike.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers single or in pairs, gently nodding on stalks arising from upper leaf axils; rach flower yellow, about 1 in. wide, consisting of 5 rounded and usually unequal petals, 5 light green folded sepals and 10 stamens.

fruits: Fruit a curved, slender, 4-sided pod that begins forming before petals drop.

comments: The foliage has a slightly rank odor.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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