Tea cassia
Chamaecrista nomame

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An erect annual herb. It can grow from seed each year or grow for a few years. It has many branches. It grows 10-60 cm high. The branches are hairy. The leaves have an even number of leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 4-8 cm long. The leaflets are small. There are 16-30 pairs. They are 5-7 mm long by 2 mm wide. The flowers are yellow. They are 6 mm long. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The pods are narrow and compressed. They are 3-8 cm long. There are 6-12 seeds.

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

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bhutan, China, East Africa, Ethiopia, Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Nepal, Pakistan, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cassia dimidata Gagnepain; Cassia hochstetteri Ghesq.; Cassia mimosoides sensu Walker; Cassia mimosoides L. var. dimidata (Roxb.) Baker; Cassia mimosoides L. subsp. nomame (Siebold) Honda; Cassia mimosoides L. var. nomame (Siebold) Makino; Cassia nomame (Sieber) Honda; Cassia nomame (Siebold) Kitagawa; Chamaecrista dimidiata (Roxb.) Lock; Senna nomame Siebold: Sooya nomame Sieber;