Senna artemisioides

"Blunt-leaved senna" (and spelling variants) redirects here. This name is also used for Senna obtusifolia, a large shrub common in warm humid regions.
Senna artemisioides
Senna artemisioides ssp. quadrifolia
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Tribe: Cassieae
Subtribe: Cassiinae
Genus: Senna
Species: S. artemisioides
Binomial name
Senna artemisioides
(Gaudich. ex DC.) Randell
Synonyms

Cassia artemisioides Gaudich. ex DC.
Cassia eremophila sensu auct. non Vogel
Cassia helmsii Symon
Cassia oligophylla (F.Muell.)
Cassia sturtii R. Br.

Senna artemisioides is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is commonly known as silver senna,[1] silver cassia or feathery cassia - although "cassia" generally refers to the largest-growing Cassiinae. Some of its distinct subspecies also have common names of their own. This plant is endemic to Australia, where it is found in all mainland states and territories, except for Victoria.

Description

This is a shrub that grows up to 3 metres in height. It has pinnate leaves with between 1 and 8 pairs of leaflets. It produces an abundance of yellow flowers in winter and spring which are about 1.5 cm in diameter, followed by 2 to 7 cm long flat green pods which age to dark brown.

The species adapts to a wide range of climatic conditions, although it is susceptible to frost, particularly when young. It prefers dry, well drained sites with full sun. As an ornamental plant, it is propagated readily from seed, which should first be soaked in boiling water.[2]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

The species was first described in 1825 by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré based on work by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle and placed in Cassia, but nowadays it has been moved to Senna. However, for a long time this plant was erroneously known as Cassia eremophila which is a true species of Cassia called desert cassia, described by Julius Rudolph Theodor Vogel.

A large number of formerly independent species are provisionally considered subspecies of S. artemisioides:

(Senna quadrifolia Burm. is a synonym of Chamaecrista absus)

Some hybridogenic subspecies have also been named:

(Cassia coriacea Benth. is a synonym of Chamaecrista coriacea)

In addition, there are apparently at least 2 undescribed taxa:

Altogether, S. artemisioides might be best considered a form taxon whose phylogenetic diversity is still largely unresolved.

References

  1. ↑ "Senna artemisioides". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Senna artemisoides". Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  3. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Senna artemisioides". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Cassia sturtii R.Br.". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  5. ↑ "Senna artemisioides (Gaudich. ex DC.) Randell nothosubsp. X artemisioides". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  6. ↑ "Senna artemisioides subsp. X coriacea (Benth.) Randell". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  7. ↑ "Senna artemisioides nothosubsp. X coriacea (Benth.) Randell". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  8. ↑ "Senna artemisioides nothosubsp. X sturtii (R.Br.) Randell". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.

Further reading

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