Senna occidentalis (L.)Link

Undershrub/ Shrub

Flowering class: Dicot Habit: Shrub Distribution notes: Exotic

Perrenial

Flowering & Fruiting: March--June

Flowering and fruiting: July-December

Seeds

Seeds and Roots

1-2 years

30-40 cm

Shrub

Common undershrub found in roadsides as well in wastelands, foetid, erect, soft wooded i.e., suffrutescent attaining a height of 30-40 cm. Young leaves and shoots are pubescent. Stem smooth, greenish brown in colour, glabrous surface, soft woody, 0.5 in diameter. Leaves pinnately compound ,green, opposite, leaf base is swallon at the base, leaf margin entire, leaf apex acuminate, reticulate venation, leaf shape lanceolate, leaflets 4-6 pairs, size 5-8 × 2-3 cm, leaf rachis 3-4 inch long, stipulate, primary vein 1 and secondary vein 5-8 pairs per leaf, glabrous both sides, slightly pubescent beneath, petiole short. Inflorescence raceme, corymb, peduncled terminal or axillary peduncle 1-2 cm long, Flowers yellow, pedicel 0.5-1 cm long, hermaphrodite, complete, 0.5-0.7 inch across, cyclic, perigynous, bracteates, 0.5- 0.8 cm long, cuspidate, greenish pink in colour, sepals unequal, slightly pubescent, greenwish yellow in colour, pentamerous, obtuse, with slightly dark colour veins, 0.4-0.7 cm, 0.2-0.3 width, polysepalous, petals 5 in number, subequal, bright yellow in colour with dark veins, pentamerous, obtuse- oblong, 1-1.5 cm long, 0.5-1 cm width, polypetalous. Androecium stamen 10, unequal, 3 longer (1.1 cm), 4 lateral stamen (0.7 cm), 3 staminoids (0.3cm) present, filament long greenwish yellow, anther brownish yellow, anther basifixed. Gynoecium carpel 1, monocarpellary, ovary tomentose, style greenish upto 1-1.3 cm long, stigma slightly brownish. Fruits flat pods, pods flattened, dark greenwish grey in colour, 7- 12 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm width. Seeds 15-20, ovoid, pale brown, compressed, smooth, and pointed tip, hard, 0.5-0.6 cm long and 0.4-0.5 cm width.

Common in grassy localities, roadsides and wastelands

Wastelands and forest glades

Sunny and shady area

Along roadsides and waste lands

Not at risk

No threats record yet

Common in roadside, domestic area

Used for the treatment of epilepsy and jaundice.

Medicinal