Senna bicapsularis

Senna bicapsularis is a species of the legume genus Senna, native to northern South America, from Panama south to Venezuela and Colombia, and also the West Indies.[1] Common names include rambling senna (formerly "cassia"), winter cassia, Christmas bush, money bush, and yellow candlewood.[2]

Senna bicapsularis

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Senna
Species:
S. bicapsularis
Binomial name
Senna bicapsularis
Synonyms

Numerous, see text

Description

It is a semi-evergreen shrub growing to 3.5 m tall with a low spreading crown that reproduces by seed. It can grow from 2 - 12 metres tall and it branches from near the base. The leaves are 2.5–9 cm long, pinnate, with six to eight leaflets; the leaflets are 1.6–4.5 cm long and 1.1–2.3 cm broad. The yellow flowers are produced in masses with a few together on short racemes and 12–16 mm long. The plant flowers from mid autumn to winter, attracting bees and butterflies.[2][3]

Uses

The Nahuas of San Luis Potosi resort to this plant for the healing of the enchantment. For this reason, the patient is cleaned with seven leaves of its leaves, passing them throughout the body. Likewise, as part of this treatment, while the healer prays, he perfumes the patient's body with a charcoal, rosemary and copal incense and then cleanses it with an egg to remove the "bad air" that has taken possession of his body.

The leaves are edible and are used to cure erysipelas in Morelos, and as an antiseptic in Oaxaca. The sap from emaciated leaves can be used externally, with salt, to heal rashes, sores, bites, stings, eczema, scabies, ringworm and thrush. In the 20th century, Maximino Martínez points out the following uses: cathartic and to counteract the effects of arthropod stings.

The seedpod flavour resembles tamarind. The leaves can be cooked as a vegetable, which can be mixed with other leaves, beans or peas.

Invasive species

It is naturalised and invasive in several coastal areas in the tropics, including Tanzania, Kenya, the Galápagos Islands and New Caledonia, where it is found in roadsides and disturbed areas, wooded grasslands, fallow land and riparian zones. [2][4]

Chemistry

The leaves and stems contain chaksinelike alkaloids. The seeds contain galactomannan. The presence in the plant of cassin , 2,6-dialkyl-3-hydroxypyridine and socassidine has also been reported

Synonyms

Senna bicapsularis has been described under a wide variety of names that are today considered its synonyms. Some of these were also applied to related plants in error. This phenomenon has happened with other taxa, which were mis-applied to this plant:[5]

  • Adipera bicapsularis (L.) Britton & Wilson
  • Adipera spiciflora Pittier
  • Cassia berterii Colla
  • Cassia bicapsularis L.
Cassia bicapsularis sensu Bojer is erroneous for Senna pendula.
Cassia bicapsularis of other authors is erroneous for Senna pendula var. glabrata
  • Cassia bicapsularis L. var. aristata DC.
Cassia aristata Benth. is a synonym of Chamaecrista aristata
  • Cassia bicapsularis L. var. quadrijuga DC.
  • Cassia collae G.Don
  • Cassia emarginata L.
Cassia emarginata Clos is a synonym of Senna candolleana
Cassia emarginata Mill. is a synonym of Chamaecrista pilosa
  • Cassia inflata Spreng.
  • Cassia laevigata sensu Prain
Cassia laevigata Willd. is a synonym of Senna septemtrionalis
Cassia laevigata of other authors is erroneous for Senna occidentalis
  • Cassia limensis Lam.
  • Cassia sennoides Jacq.
  • Cassia spiciflora (Pittier) Pittier
  • Cathartocarpus bicapsularis (L.) Ham.
  • Chamaefistula inflata G.Don
  • Isandrina arborescens Raf.
  • Isandrina emarginata (L.) Britton & Rose

Footnotes
  1. USDA (2007)
  2. PIER (2006)
  3. Christmas Senna (Senna bicapsularis) by The National Gardening Association.
  4. Henderson, L. (2001). Alien weeds and invasive plants. A complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12, 300pp. PPR, ARC South Africa.
  5. ILDIS (2005)

References
  • International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS) (2005): Senna bicapsularis. Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2007-DEC-20.
  • Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) (2006): Senna bicapsularis. Version of 2006-OCT-25. Retrieved 2007-DEC-20.
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2007): Germplasm Resources Information Network - Senna bicapsularis. Retrieved 2007-DEC-20.
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