Code
CASTO
Growth form
broadleaf
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Cassia boreensis Miq. |
| synonym | Cassia borneensis Miq. |
| synonym | Cassia gallinaria Collad. |
| synonym | Cassia numilis Collad. |
| synonym | Cassia tora L. |
| synonym | Cassia tora var. borneensis (Miq.)Miq. |
| synonym | Emelista tora Britton & Rose |
🗒 Common Names
| Comorian |
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| Créole Seychelles |
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| English |
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| French |
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| Malagasy |
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| Malgache |
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📚 Overview
Diagnostic Keys
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The genus Cassia was splited in Cassia, Chamaecrista and Senna, according to the following criteria :
| Glands on the rachis and petiole | Petals | Stamens | Fruit | Bracteoles | Genus |
| absent | subequal | 10 | indehiscent | present | Cassia |
| absent or present | subequal | 10 or 7 fertil | indehiscent or dehiscent not elastic, valve not coiling | absent | Senna |
| present | unequal | 10 or5 fertil | elastically dehiscent, valves coiling | present | Chamaecrista |
Distribution of Cassia spp. in the following table :
| Old name | Valid name |
| Cassia absus L. | Chamaecrista absus (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia alata L. | Senna alata (L.) Roxb.. |
| Cassia fistula L. | Cassia fistula L. |
| Cassia hirsuta L. | Senna hirsuta (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia javanica L. | Cassia javanica L. |
| Cassia kirkii Oliv. | Chamaecrista kirkii (Oliv.) Standl. |
| Cassia mimosoides L. | Chamaecrista mimosoides (L.) Greene |
| Cassia nictitans L. | Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench |
| Cassia nigricans Vahl. | Chamaecrista nigricans (Vahl.) Greene |
| Cassia obtusifolia L. | Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia occidentalis L. | Senna occidentalis (L.) Link |
| Cassia rotundifolia Pers. | Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Pers.) Greene |
| Cassia siamea Lam. | Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby |
| Cassia sieberiana DC | Cassia sieberiana DC |
| Cassia tora L. | Senna tora (L.) Roxb. |
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
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Description
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Global description
Senna tora is an erect plant with alternate paripinnately compound leaves. The leaves have 3 pairs of obovate leaflets, with a small tip at the apex. At the insertion point of the first pair of leaflets is a black rod- shaped gland. The flowers are yellow, solitary or in pairs at the leaf base. The large stamens have non rostrate anthers. The fruit is a long, slightly curved pod containing a row of polygonal seeds.
Cotyledons
Subsessile and orbicular cotyledons. They measure about 20 mm in diameter. From the base of the lamina emerge 3 to 5 ribs.
First leaves
First leaves are alternate, composed and paripinnate. The first leaf has two pairs of leaflets, the following have three pairs.
General habit
Shrubby plant with upright growth habit. The plant develops in herbaceous erect branched stem, or in small shrub. It can measure 1.5 m high
Underground system
Deep taproot system.
Stem
Solid and cylindrical stem. It is glabrous to finely pubescent. The base quickly becomes woody in plants of high bushy development.
Leaf
Leaves alternate and paripinnately compound. The petiole is almost as long as the rachis, the total length of the leaf may reach 15 cm. The base of the petiole is framed by 2 linear stipules of 1 cm long. The upper part of the petiole and the rachis is excavated in grooves. At the base of the first two pairs of leaflets, is a prominent rod-shaped gland, black in colour, measuring 1.5 mm long. Adults leaves consist of three pairs of obovate shape leaflets, the base is wedged, more or less asymmetrical and with rounded mucronate apex. The size of the leaflets increases from the base to the top of the leaf. They are 2 to 6 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm wide. The margin is entire, finely ciliate, the top face is glabrescent and the bottom face is finely pubescent.
Inflorescence
Flowers solitary or grouped in pairs in the axils of leaves. They are carried by a pedicel, 1 to 3 cm long.
Flower
A blossoming flower measures 2 to 3 cm in diameter. The calyx consists of 5 free sepals. The corolla is slightly dissymmetrical and has five yellow obovate petals. The two ventral petals have a narrow base. Of the three dorsal petals, the central petal is deeply emarginated at the top. The stamens are free, and they are 10 in numbers and more or less abortive. The large stamens have non rostrate anthers. The style of the ovary is 2 mm long and stick shaped.
Fruit
The fruit is a slightly arched linear pod. It is 15 to 25 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide. The section of the pod is elliptical, the summit ends in tapered beak. A pod contains 20 - 40 seeds longitudinally nested in a single series.
Seed
Seed almost cylindrical, slightly flattened laterally. It measures 5 to 6 mm long and 2 mm wide. The top and base are beveled. Shiny brown seed coat, decorated with a lighter mark in the shape of a stretched "S" drawn on each side face.
Senna tora is an erect plant with alternate paripinnately compound leaves. The leaves have 3 pairs of obovate leaflets, with a small tip at the apex. At the insertion point of the first pair of leaflets is a black rod- shaped gland. The flowers are yellow, solitary or in pairs at the leaf base. The large stamens have non rostrate anthers. The fruit is a long, slightly curved pod containing a row of polygonal seeds.
Cotyledons
Subsessile and orbicular cotyledons. They measure about 20 mm in diameter. From the base of the lamina emerge 3 to 5 ribs.
First leaves
First leaves are alternate, composed and paripinnate. The first leaf has two pairs of leaflets, the following have three pairs.
General habit
Shrubby plant with upright growth habit. The plant develops in herbaceous erect branched stem, or in small shrub. It can measure 1.5 m high
Underground system
Deep taproot system.
Stem
Solid and cylindrical stem. It is glabrous to finely pubescent. The base quickly becomes woody in plants of high bushy development.
Leaf
Leaves alternate and paripinnately compound. The petiole is almost as long as the rachis, the total length of the leaf may reach 15 cm. The base of the petiole is framed by 2 linear stipules of 1 cm long. The upper part of the petiole and the rachis is excavated in grooves. At the base of the first two pairs of leaflets, is a prominent rod-shaped gland, black in colour, measuring 1.5 mm long. Adults leaves consist of three pairs of obovate shape leaflets, the base is wedged, more or less asymmetrical and with rounded mucronate apex. The size of the leaflets increases from the base to the top of the leaf. They are 2 to 6 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm wide. The margin is entire, finely ciliate, the top face is glabrescent and the bottom face is finely pubescent.
Inflorescence
Flowers solitary or grouped in pairs in the axils of leaves. They are carried by a pedicel, 1 to 3 cm long.
Flower
A blossoming flower measures 2 to 3 cm in diameter. The calyx consists of 5 free sepals. The corolla is slightly dissymmetrical and has five yellow obovate petals. The two ventral petals have a narrow base. Of the three dorsal petals, the central petal is deeply emarginated at the top. The stamens are free, and they are 10 in numbers and more or less abortive. The large stamens have non rostrate anthers. The style of the ovary is 2 mm long and stick shaped.
Fruit
The fruit is a slightly arched linear pod. It is 15 to 25 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide. The section of the pod is elliptical, the summit ends in tapered beak. A pod contains 20 - 40 seeds longitudinally nested in a single series.
Seed
Seed almost cylindrical, slightly flattened laterally. It measures 5 to 6 mm long and 2 mm wide. The top and base are beveled. Shiny brown seed coat, decorated with a lighter mark in the shape of a stretched "S" drawn on each side face.
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No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Life cycle
Annual
Cyclicity
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New Caledonia: Senna tora seeds germinate best at depths less than 2.5 cm, preferably at the beginning of the rainy season. The growth of seedling is rapid at temperatures above 24 ° C. Flowering lasts from January to the beginning of the cool season, followed by fruiting and death of the plant unless it was gyrobroyate resulting in vegetative regrowth that sustain the plant for another year.
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Reproduction
Senna tora is an annual to multiannual species that reproduces by seeds that can be carried by runoff and mud stuck to animals, vehicles.
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Morphology
Growth form
Erected
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Compound
Type of prefoliation
Leaf ratio medium
Broad leaves
Latex
Without latex
Stem section
Round
Root type
Taproot
Hollow or solid stem
Solid stem
Stipule type
Lanceolate stipule
Leaf attachment type
with petiole
Fruit type
Pod
Pod type
Compressed pod in section
Cotyledon type
orbicular
Lamina base
rounded
asymmetric
Lamina margin
hairy
entire
Lamina apex
mucronate
Upperface pilosity
Glabrous
Less hairy
Upperface hair type
Pubescent
Lowerface pilosity
Less hairy
Glabrous
Lamina section
flat
Lamina Veination
pennate
Flower color
Yellow
Inflorescence type
Axillary solitary flower
Stem pilosity
Glabrous
Less hairy
Stem hair type
Pubescent
Life form
Broadleaf plant
Look Alikes
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Senna tora can be easily confused with S. obtusifolia. The latter has only one rod shaped gland at the base of the first pair of leaflets and large stamens with rostrate anthers, whereas S. tora have two rod shaped glands disposed at the base of each of the first two pairs of leaflets and stamens with non rostrate anthers.
See also: Determination key of eight species of Cassia L. (Caesalpiniaceae), West African weeds.
| S. obtusifolia | S. tora | |
| numbers rod glands | 1 | 2 |
| anthers stamens | Beaked | Non beaked |
See also: Determination key of eight species of Cassia L. (Caesalpiniaceae), West African weeds.
| Leaflets with accuminate apex | Glabrous leaflets (Upper surface) | S. occidentalis |
| Densely pubescent leaflets | S. hirsuta | |
| Leaflets with rounded apex | One rod shaped gland on the rachis of the leaf | S. obtusifolia |
| Two rod shaped glands on the rachis of the leaf | S. tora |
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Ecology
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The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soil. It can grow in semi- shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.
Comoros: Senna tora is observed in coastal areas up to 300 m above sea level in the three islands.
Madagascar: ruderal species (along roads and irrigation canals, around the villages or beef farms) and common weed of crops in parcel where the soil is still fertile (cell cultures, in alluvial plains, depressions and terraces).
Mauritius: Absent.
Mayotte: Senna tora is an exotic species very commonly naturalized in secondarized environments such as wastelands, crops, ditches, or urban areas, mainly in the northern part of the island.
New Caledonia: This species prefers light to heavy soils but well-drained, with temperatures above 21 ° C.
Reunion: Very rare species.
Seychelles: Species of clearings and abandoned places. It is rarely abundant.
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Miscellaneous Details
Toxicity
Senna tora is toxic for livestock
Thomas Le Bourgeois
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📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Description
Geographical distibution
Madagascar
Reunion Island
Comoros
Mauritius
Seychelles
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Origine
Originating from South-east Asia, India, Sri Lanka and Pacific islands.
Worldwide distribution
It occurs in tropical Africa but less frequent than S. obtusifolia. It is present in the islands of the south-western part of the Indian Ocean, and east Africa where it is in a mixture and/or confused with S. obtusifolia.
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No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
Global harmfulness
Senna tora is invasive in the southern United States, Asia, and belongs to the list of 300 major invasive species in the Pacific-Indian Ocean area.
Senna tora is an important weed in pastures and crop fields in South-east Asia.
Local harmfulness
Comoros: Senna tora is a ruderal plant in the abandoned wasteland at low altitude and weed of maize crops, particularly in the southeast of Grande Comore region.
Madagascar: Its frequency is relatively low but may locally form a dense stand and hinder the development of certain badly maintained food crops (maize, cowpeas, groundnuts).
New Caledonia: On the recent introduction in New Caledonia, it quickly invades, due to its high seed production, waste places, and northwestern pastures in particular.
Reunion: A weed rare in crops.
Seychelles: A weed low harmfulness.
Senna tora is invasive in the southern United States, Asia, and belongs to the list of 300 major invasive species in the Pacific-Indian Ocean area.
Senna tora is an important weed in pastures and crop fields in South-east Asia.
Local harmfulness
Comoros: Senna tora is a ruderal plant in the abandoned wasteland at low altitude and weed of maize crops, particularly in the southeast of Grande Comore region.
Madagascar: Its frequency is relatively low but may locally form a dense stand and hinder the development of certain badly maintained food crops (maize, cowpeas, groundnuts).
New Caledonia: On the recent introduction in New Caledonia, it quickly invades, due to its high seed production, waste places, and northwestern pastures in particular.
Reunion: A weed rare in crops.
Seychelles: A weed low harmfulness.
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No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Uses
Medicinal : The leaves and the seeds of Senna tora are anticholesterolemic, antispasmodic, carminative emollient, hepatic and ophthalmic. They are used in the treatment of skin diseases. A decoction of the leaves my be used as a purgative, vermifuge or to treat cough. The leaves and seed in the treatment of ringworm and scabies, as a diuretic and an antipyretic. In Indonesia and the Philippines, pounded leaves are smeared on the head of restless children. In Viet Nam seeds are used as a laxative, and roasted seeds are employed to treat insomnia, hypertension and ophthalmia. In India, pounded seeds are used to treat itching. In Chinese medicine. S. tora is used to improve vision.
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Management
Global control
Cultural control : Easily controlled by hand or hoe and by cultivation.
Chemical control : Pre-emergence: prometryne. Foliar treatment: 2,4-D.
Local control
New Caledonia: The management of Senna tora is difficult. Tillage promotes its dissemination. The gyrobroyage in the rainy season does not eliminate the stands but reduces the vigor of the plant if it is accompanied by a reduction in animal densities that will facilitate the restoration of forage species. It is desirable to use a combination with a chemical control on regrowth of 3 to 4 weeks. S. tora is sensitive to the mixture picloram + 2,4-D and triclopyr to be applied before flowering spray.
USA: A biological control with the fungus Alternaria cassiae is being developed in the United States.
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📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
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References
- Henty E.E. and G.S. Pritchard. 1973. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. Botany bulletin No 7.
- -Padua de L.S., Bunyapraphatsara N. and Lemmens R.H.M.J. 2002. Plant Resources of South-East Asia 12 (1) Medicinal and poisonous plants 1.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
- Blanfort, V., F. Desmoulins, J. Prosperi, T. Le Bourgeois, R. Guiglion and P. Grard (2010). AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Montpellier, France, IAC, Cirad.
- http://www.hear.org/pier/species/senna_tora.htm
- http://idao.cirad.fr/SpecieSheet?sheet=advenpac/especes/c/casto/casto_fr.html
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cédérom. Montpellier, France, Cirad ed.
Information Listing > References
- Henty E.E. and G.S. Pritchard. 1973. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. Botany bulletin No 7.
- -Padua de L.S., Bunyapraphatsara N. and Lemmens R.H.M.J. 2002. Plant Resources of South-East Asia 12 (1) Medicinal and poisonous plants 1.
- Huat, J., Nagy, M., Carpente, A., Schwartz, M., Le Bourgeois, T. & Marnotte, P. 2021. Guide de la flore spontannée des agrosystèmes de Mayotte. Montpellier, Cirad. 150 p.
- Blanfort, V., F. Desmoulins, J. Prosperi, T. Le Bourgeois, R. Guiglion and P. Grard (2010). AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Montpellier, France, IAC, Cirad.
- http://www.hear.org/pier/species/senna_tora.htm
- http://idao.cirad.fr/SpecieSheet?sheet=advenpac/especes/c/casto/casto_fr.html
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cédérom. Montpellier, France, Cirad ed.
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Senna%2520tora
Thomas Le Bourgeois
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No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Fabales |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Genus | Senna |
| Species | Senna tora (L.) Roxb. |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
