Candle Bush, Ringworm Senna
Senna alata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub which loses its leaves during the year. It grows to 1-6 m high and spreads to 2 m across. The stem is erect and slender. The young stems are finely hairy. The leaves are large and oblong. They are divided into 8-14 pairs of leaflets. These are oblong and 5-19 cm long by 2.5-12 cm wide. They are usually blunt at the top. The flowers are yellow. They occur in spike-like clusters. These are 15-70 cm long. The fruit are winged pods. They are black and 12-17 cm long, with the central part 1.5-2 cm wide. The pod has partitions across it. The edge of the wing is wavy. The seeds are oval with a beak. They are 6-8 mm long and 4-5 mm wide. There are 2 shiny green patches near the beak.

The leaves are used to treat ringworm. There are about 260 Senna species. It can be invasive. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It prefers light to medium soils. It grows best in an open sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It grows in rainforests and near swamps. It suits humid locations. It grows from 5 m to 360 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. In some countries it has been recorded up to 2,100 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, American Samoa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), Cambodia, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niue, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Thailand, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The young leaves and seeds have been recorded as eaten in Africa. The seeds are used as a coffee substitute. The flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Caution:

It is not known if they are used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, seeds - coffee, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Anjananjana, Baba chakoda, Bhumiari, Bhupadma, Christmas candle, Chum het tet, Chum het yai, Cortalinde, Donghet, Empress candle plant, Gelenggang, Hpak-lam-mon-long, Hindi-sana, Kabaka, Katepeng badak, Ketepeng cina, Ketepeng, Khirkak, La'au fai lafa, Ludanggan, Mezali-gyi, Mulamula, Nat-ki-sana, Nela-tangedu, Nelavarike, Nila vaka, Nila virai, Pwesay-mezali, Ranauraa, Sanna-makki, Shona-makhi, Sindjo-el, Son-pat

Synonyms

Cassia alata L.; Cassia bracteata L.f.; Cassia herpetica Jacq.; Cassia rumphiana (DC.) Bojer; Herpetica alata (L.) Raf.;