Indian senna
Senna alexandrina

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It can grow to 1 m high. The branches have short hairs. The leaves are alternate and compound. They have leaflets along the stalk. There are 16-24 leaflets on short stalks. The leaflets slightly overlap. They have a sharp tip. They are more pale underneath. The flowers are large and bright yellow. They are arranged irregularly. They are 5 cm across on stalks 2.5 cm long. The fruit is a short pod 8-11 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. There are 12-20 seeds each in a separate cavity.

There are 100 Cassia species. This group has been revised to a smaller more consistent group. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Asia, Brazil, Central Africa, Central Asia, Chad, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indochina, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Palestine, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Somalia, South America, Sudan, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Indies

How it is used for food

Caution: Has laxative properties. The leaves are used for a herbal tea.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, seeds, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bhumiari, Bhupadma, Hindi-sana, Muong la-hep, Nat-ki-sana, Nela-tagedu, Nelavarike, Nila vaka, Nila virai, Salamac, Sanamokeh, Sanna-makki, Son-pat

Synonyms

Cassia acutifolia Delile; Cassia angustifolia Vahl; Cassia senna L.; and others