Senna pilocarina is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to inland Western Australia. It is a prostrate or upright, spreading shrub with pinnate leaves with five to nine pairs of oblong to wedge-shaped leaflets, and yellow flowers arranged in groups of four or five, with ten fertile stamens in each flower.
| Senna pilocarina | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Senna |
| Species: | S. pilocarina
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| Binomial name | |
| Senna pilocarina | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editSenna pilocarina is a prostrate or upright, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 30–80 cm (12–31 in). Its leaves are 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long on a petiole 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. The leaves are pinnate with five to nine pairs of oblong to wedge-shaped leaflets 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide spaced 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) apart. The flowers are yellow and arranged in umbels of four or five in upper leaf axils on a peduncle 25–35 mm (0.98–1.38 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long. The petals are about 6 mm (0.24 in) long and there are ten fertile stamens in each flower, the anthers 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long and of different lengths. Flowering occurs in winter and the fruit is a flat, straight pod about 40 mm (1.6 in) long and about 15 mm (0.59 in) wide.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editThis species was first formally described in 1966 by David Eric Symon who gave it the name Cassia pilocarina in Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, from specimens collected in the South Barlee Range in 1959.[4][5] In 1998, Barbara Rae Randell transferred the species to Senna as Senna pilocarina in the Flora of Australia.[6][7] The specific epithet (pilocarina) means "hairy-keeled".[8]
Distribution and habitat
editSenna pilocarina grows on stony hills near the headwaters of the Ashburton River in the Gascoyne and Pilbara bioregions of inland Western Australia.[3][2]
Conservation status
editSenna pilocarina is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Senna pilocarina". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Senna pilocarina". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b "Senna pilocarina". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ a b Symon, David E. (1966). "A revision of the genus Cassia L. Caesalpiniaceae in Australia". Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 90: 109–110. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Cassia pilocarina". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Senna pilocarina". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ Randell, Barbara R.; Barlow, Bryan A. (1998). Orchard, Anthony E. (ed.). Flora of Australia (PDF). Vol. 12. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. p. 195. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 277. ISBN 9780958034180.