This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2010) |
Senna sophera is a shrub or tree in the bean family Fabaceae. It is now widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, but is believed to be native to tropical America. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Cassia sophera, it has acquired a large number of synonyms.[1] Vernacular names include algarrobilla,[2] baner, kasunda, kasaundi (Hindi) and kolkasunda (Bengali).[citation needed]. This tree is called Gnazhar tree (ஞாழல் மரம்) in Tamil. The flower of this tree has been extensively referred in poems of Sangam Tamil litterature.
Senna sophera | |
---|---|
Senna sophera seeds | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Genus: | Senna |
Species: | S. sophera
|
Binomial name | |
Senna sophera | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
|
Description
editSenna sophera is a shrub or small tree, glabrous, about 3 m in height. The compound leaves have 8-12 paired leaflets that are acute and tapering. It has yellow flowers in corymbose racemes.[citation needed]
Distribution
editSenna sophera is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, but is considered by Plants of the World Online to be native to the Caribbean (Aruba, the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, the Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands); Central America (Belize and Panama); and Guyana in northern South America.[1]
Conservation
editSenna socotrana was assessed as "least concern" for the 2004 IUCN Red List, where it is said to be native only to Socotra.[3] As of April 2023[update], S. socotrana was regarded as a synonym of Senna sophera, which has a very much wider distribution.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Senna sophera (L.) Roxb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Senna sophera". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ Miller, A. (2004). "Senna socotrana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T44973A10968995. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T44973A10968995.en. Retrieved 2023-04-22.