Senna hebecarpa (Fernald) H.S. Irwin & Barneby. Common name: Northern Wild Senna. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Aug-Nov. Habitat: Open wet habitats, moist forests. Distribution: MA and s. NH west to s. WI, south to sc. NC, e. TN, s. IN, and c. IL.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, FNA11.1, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, SE3, Tn, Va, Irwin & Barneby (1982), Isely (1998); = Cassia hebecarpa Fernald — G, RAB, Tat, W, Isely (1975), Robertson & Lee (1976); = Ditremexa marylandica (L.) Britton & Rose — S, misapplied and orthographic variant; > Cassia hebecarpa Fernald var. hebecarpa — F, WV; > Cassia hebecarpa Fernald var. longipila E.L.Braun — F, WV. Basionym: Cassia hebecarpa Fernald 1937
Links to other floras: = Senna hebecarpa - FNA11.1
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of moist forests and open, wet habitats such as river banks and open floodplain forests; also old fields and meadows.
Stems: Stems stout, mostly unbranched, slightly hairy above.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, pinnately divided into 5--10 pairs of gray-green, oblong to elliptic-oblong leaflets, each to 2½ in. long and with a tiny tooth at the tip. On the upper side of each petiole, near its base, is a small club-shaped, nectar-secreting gland.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in terminal and upper axillary racemes or panicles, pale yellow, about 3/4 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, consisting of 5 unequal petals (which turn white with age), 5 sepals, 10 stamens with dark brown anthers and a pistil with spreading white hairs.
Fruits: Fruit a hairy, dark brown (when mature), linear, segmented pod.
Comments:
Height: 1.5-6 ft.
plant sale text: Northern wild senna is a good foliage plant with a dramatic floral display. Numerous clusters of large yellow flowers in late summer readily identify it as a member of the pea family. For the rest of the year, its clean pinnate foliage is a good backdrop for other garden plants. The cloudless sulfur is one of several butterflies whose larvae depend on this plant. Other insects use its nectar. This tall perennial is long lived so count on its blooms in your garden for years to come.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of moist forests and open, wet habitats such as river banks and open floodplain forests; also old fields and meadows.
stems: Stems stout, mostly unbranched, slightly hairy above.
leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, pinnately divided into 5--10 pairs of gray-green, oblong to elliptic-oblong leaflets, each to 2½ in. long and with a tiny tooth at the tip. On the upper side of each petiole, near its base, is a small club-shaped, nectar-secreting gland.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in terminal and upper axillary racemes or panicles, pale yellow, about 3/4 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, consisting of 5 unequal petals (which turn white with age), 5 sepals, 10 stamens with dark brown anthers and a pistil with spreading white hairs.
fruits: Fruit a hairy, dark brown (when mature), linear, segmented pod.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code: 2, 3
native range: eastern United States
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