Kasondi senna, Pepper leaved senna
Senna sophera

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small annual shrub. It grows about 2 m high. The larger leaves are 7-18 cm long. The leaves are compound with 8-12 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets can be 7 cm long by 2 cm wide. The leaflets taper. The flowers are yellow. They are in groups of 4-10 flowers. The pod is erect and cylinder shaped. It is 6-10 cm long by 1 cm wide.

The bark has been used in medicine. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In the Himalayas it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andaman Is., Antilles, Aruba, Asia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Leeward Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Maldives, Marianas, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Somalia, South America, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are boiled to remove the unpleasant smell and flavour.

Edible parts

Seeds - drink, leaves, caution, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Algarrobilla, Baner, Boavaththiyara, Chakara, Chekenda, Chenngi, Dangywe, Kalkasunda, Kasaunda, Kasaundi, Kashawada, Kasunda, Kazaw-pok-nge, Muong ngot, Phak let ket, Pydee tanghadu

Synonyms

Cassia esculenta Roxb.; Cassia sophera L.; and several others