Stinking Cassia, Sickle senna
Senna tora

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae

What it is like

Senna tora is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Wasteland and cultivated areas in the Himalayas. To elevations of 1400 metres in Nepal.

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea to the Phillipines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Young leaves - cooked as a vegetable. Roasted seeds are a coffee substitute.

Coffee: the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.

Medicine

Rating: 3

The leaves and the seeds are anticholesterolemic, antispasmodic, carminative, emollient, hepatic, ophthalmic and purgative. The powdered leaves are used in the treatment of indigestion and stomach pain.The leaves are used externally in the treatment of skin diseases. The seed contains anthraquinones and naphthopyrones. It is anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal and hepatic. The seed is used in Korea to treat constipation, oedema, glaucoma, nyctalopia and to protect the liver. A paste made from the seed is used externally in Nepal to treat leucoderma, leprosy and itchy skin. A paste made from the roots, mixed with lemon juice (Citrus limon) is applied as a poultice to treat ringworm. A decoction of the fruit is used in the treatment of fevers.

Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.

Anticholesterolemic: Prevents the build up of cholesterol.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Hepatic: Acts on the liver (for better or worse!).

Leprosy: Used to treat leprosy - a chronic bacterial infection of the skin and superficial nerves (in the skin) caused by Mycobacterium leprae.

Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.

Parasiticide: Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in

Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.

Other

Rating:

The seeds (does this mean the pods?) are a source of tannin.

Parasiticide: Kills external body parasites such as hair lice.

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

How it is grown

See also , . C. Tora Benth. = Senna obtusifolia.

Propagating it: Seed - scarify and then pre-soak the seed for 2 - 3 hours in warm water before sowing it from early spring to early summer in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 12 weeks at 23°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse. Do not plant them out until the following spring. Division as growth commences in spring. Cuttings of moderately ripe wood, July in a frame.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 0-0

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

basionym: Cassia tora L.