*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.
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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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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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