番泻决明属——精选推荐

Flora of China 10: 28–33. 2010.

11. SENNA Miller, Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4. 1754.

番泻决明属 fan xie jue ming shu

Herbs, shrubs, or small trees. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets opposite; rachis and petiole with or without glands. Flowers in

axillary or terminal racemes; bracteoles absent. Sepals 5. Petals 5, subequal, usually yellow. Stamens 10; filaments of all stamens

straight, sometimes 10 fertile, subequal, sometimes 3 adaxial stamens staminodes, (6 or)7 fertile; anther thecae not ciliate along

suture. Legume either indehiscent or inertly dehiscent through 1 or both sutures, in last case not coiling, sometimes valves breaking

up into 1-seeded joints. Seeds numerous, funicle filiform.

About 260 species: pantropical; 15 species (13 introduced) in China.

1a. Petiole and rachis of leaves without glands.

2a. Petiole and rachis of leaves with 2 longitudinal ribs, narrowly winged; legume with a membranous wing at

middle downward to base of each valve ....................................................................................................................... 1. S. alata

2b. Petiole and rachis of leaves without wings.

3a. Leaflets abaxially densely yellowish brown velutinous; legume narrowly cylindric ................................... 4. S. spectabilis

3b. Leaflets abaxially glabrous and farina-white; legume flattened.

4a. Leaflets 6–10 pairs; stipules linear, caducous ............................................................................................... 2. S. siamea

4b. Leaflets 8–16 pairs; stipules ovate-cordate, tardily deciduous .......................................................... 3. S. didymobotrya

1b. Petiole and rachis of leaves with glands.

5a. Glands on petiole only.

6a. Gland on upper part of petiole, blackish brown, discoid, sessile; leaflets 8–28 pairs ...................................... 8. S. nomame

6b. Leaf with a solitary gland above base of petiole; leaflets 3–10 pairs.

7a. Young branchlets, petiole, and rachis of leaves densely yellowish brown villous; leaflets villous on

both surfaces; legume densely hirsute on surfaces of valves ....................................................................... 5. S. hirsuta

7b. Plants glabrous or subglabrous throughout; legume glabrous.

8a. Petiolar gland sessile, globose or ovoid, at basal joint; legume flattened, 10–13 cm ................... 6. S. occidentalis

8b. Petiolar gland narrow, clavate to subulate, above basal joint; legume terete, 5–10 cm, with

light-colored suture ............................................................................................................................... 7. S. sophera

5b. Glands only present on rachis between leaflets.

9a. Leaflets 2 pairs, obliquely ovate, very unequally sided, 4–16.5 × 2–7 cm, larger half facing leaf base ......... 9. S. fruticosa

9b. Leaflets 3 to more pairs, smaller than above.

10a. Leaflets 10–26(–50) pairs, a conical or narrowly ovoid gland between lowermost pair of leaflets

(often early caducous) ........................................................................................................................... 10. S. multijuga

10b. Leaflets 3–9 pairs.

11a. Fertile stamens 10.

12a. Leaflets 4–6 pairs; leaves 15–30 cm; stipe of legume 10–20 mm ...................................... 11. S. sulfurea

12b. Leaflets 6–9 pairs; leaves 10–15 cm; stipe of legume 5–7 mm ...................................... 12. S. surattensis

11b. Fertile stamens 7.

13a. Rachis of leaves with a gland between lowest pair of leaflets ..................................... 15. S. bicapsularis

13b. Rachis of leaves with a gland between each pair of leaflets.

14a. Legume terete, 6–10 × ca. 1 cm; leaflets ovate to ovate-elliptic, apex acute

to acuminate .................................................................................................... 13. S. septemtrionalis

14b. Legume linear, terete, 10–15 × ca. 0.5 cm; leaflets obovate, apex broadly

rounded ............................................................................................................................... 14. S. tora

1. Senna alata (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832, 2: 349.

1832.

翅荚决明 chi jia jue ming

Cassia alata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 378. 1753.

Shrubs, 1.5–3(–5) m tall. Branches greenish, thick, pubes-

cent. Leaves 30–60 cm; stipules persistent, triangular, 6–

10(–15) mm; petiole and rachis with 2 longitudinal ribs and

narrow wings; petiolar glands absent; petiolules very short or

leaflets subsessile; leaflets 6–12(–20) pairs, oblong or obovate-

oblong, 6–15 × 3.5–7.5 cm, thinly leathery, glabrous, base

obliquely truncate, apex obtusely rounded and cuspidate. Ra-

cemes axillary, dense, many flowered, or sometimes several ra-

cemes forming a terminal panicle, 10–50 cm; peduncles 7–14

cm; bracts caducous, strobilaceous, oblong to broadly ovate, 2–

3 × 1–2 cm, at first enveloping flowers. Flowers ca. 2.5 cm in

diam. Sepals orange-yellow, oblong, unequal. Petals bright yel-

low, tinged with conspicuous purple veins, ovate-orbicular, 16–

24 × 10–15 mm, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, fertile stamens 7,

opening with apical pores, lower 2 with stout filaments ca. 4

mm and larger anthers, 4 with filaments ca. 2 mm and smaller

anthers, reduced stamens 3 or 4. Ovary puberulent, sessile;

ovules many. Legume winged, sharply tetragonal, 10–20 × 1.5–

2 cm, glabrous, with a broad, membranous wing down middle

of each valve; wings 4–8 mm wide, papery, crenulate. Seeds

50–60, compressed, deltoid. 2n = 24, 28.

Sparse forests, dry slopes. Guangdong, ?Hainan, S Yunnan [native

to tropical America; widely introduced in the tropics elsewhere].

This plant is used as a laxative.

2. Senna siamea (Lamarck) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New

York Bot. Gard. 35: 98. 1982.

铁刀木 tie dao mu

Cassia siamea Lamarck, Encycl. 1: 648. 1785.

Trees, 10–15 m tall. Bark gray, subsmooth; young

branches ribbed, sparsely puberulent. Leaves 20–30 cm; stip-

ules caducous, linear, tiny; rachis and petiole without glands,

puberulent; leaflets 6–10(–15) pairs, oblong or ovate-oblong, 3–

7 × 1.5–2.5 cm, leathery, abaxially finely pubescent, adaxially

smooth and glabrous, base rounded, apex obtusely rounded,

often emarginate, mucronate. Racemes in axils of apical leaves,

often several forming a large terminal panicle on a robust pe-

duncle 5–7 cm; bracts linear, 5–6 mm. Sepals suborbicular,

unequal in size, outer smaller, inner larger, ca. 9 mm, outside

hairy. Petals yellow, broadly obovate, 1.2–1.5 cm, shortly

clawed. Stamens 10, among them 7 fertile, anthers opening by

apical pores, 2 with filaments ca. 10 mm and anthers 6–7 mm, 4

or 5 with filaments 2–3 mm and anthers 5–6 mm, staminodes

ca. 3 mm. Ovary sessile, densely white pubescent. Legume flat-

tened, 15–30 × 1–1.5 cm, suture thick, riblike, pubescent, pur-

plish brown when mature. Seeds 10–30, light brown, ovoid, 2–

2.5 × 5–6 mm. 2n = 28.

Cultivated in S China [native to Myanmar and Thailand, and

probably also to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam; widely cultivated in the

tropics].

This tree is planted as an ornamental in parks and gardens and is

used as a wayside tree. The hard, durable wood is used for furniture.

3. Senna didymobotrya (Fresenius) H. S. Irwin & Barneby,

Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 467. 1982.

长穗决明 chang sui jue ming

Cassia didymobotrya Fresenius, Flora 22: 53. 1839.

Shrubs, 2.5–3 m tall. Young branches and leaves puberu-

lent, glabrescent when old. Leaves to 35(–50) cm; stipules

tardily deciduous, ovate-cordate, 6–17 mm, acuminate; petiole

and rachis without glands, puberulent; petiolules very short;

leaflets 8–16 pairs, abaxially farina-white, ovate-oblong or lan-

ceolate-oblong, 3–5.5 × 1–2 cm, base rounded and oblique,

apex obtuse or subacute, mucronate. Racemes in axils of leaves

in upper part of branches, 10–35 cm, sometimes several

arranged in a terminal leafy panicle; bracts caducous, imbricate,

broadly ovate, apex subacute or acuminate. Sepals oblong-obo-

vate. Petals yellow, oblong or obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens

10, among them functionally 2 extra large, curved, ca. 12 mm.

Ovary densely yellowish or pallid pilosulose. Legume com-

pressed, ligulate-oblong, 8–10 × 1.6–1.8 cm, leathery, bicari-

nate by sutures, apex with a long and slender awn, stipe 1–1.2

cm; fruiting pedicel ca. 1 cm. Seeds 9–16, obovoid-oblong,

compressed. 2n = 28.

Cultivated in Hainan, ?Yunnan [native to tropical Africa; now

naturalized in India and Sri Lanka].

4. Senna spectabilis (Candolle) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem.

New York Bot. Gard. 35: 600. 1982.

美丽决明 mei li jue ming

Cassia spectabilis Candolle, Cat. Pl. Horti Monsp. 90.

1813.

Trees, evergreen, small, 5–7(–10) m tall, with long,

spreading branches. Young branches, petioles, and rachises of

leaves densely yellowish brown velutinous. Leaves 12–30 cm;

rachis and petiole without glands; leaflets 8–15(–19) pairs,

elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 3–7 × 1–2 cm (lowermost pair

usually much smaller and early caducous), abaxially densely

yellowish brown velutinous, adaxially glabrous or puberulent,

base subrounded and slightly oblique, apex acute, cuspidate.

Flowers in terminal panicles or axillary racemes; peduncles and

pedicels densely yellowish brown velutinous; bracts caducous,

ovate, 4–5 mm. Sepals 5, orange-yellow, unequal: 2 outer

smaller, ovate, 5–7 mm, pubescent; 3 inner larger, suborbicular,

8–11 mm in diam. Petals yellow, darkly brownish yellow

veined, unequal in size, broadly to narrowly obovate, shortly

clawed. Stamens 10, 7 of them fertile, anthers opening by apical

pores, staminodes 3, smaller. Ovary linear, ca. 3 cm, recurved;

style and stigma inconspicuous. Legume pendulous, black,

narrowly cylindric, slightly compressed, 25–35 × 1–1.5 cm,

slightly contracted between seeds, annulate-septate, glabrous.

Seeds 50–70, suborbicular, ca. 5 mm in diam.

Cultivated in Guangdong, S Yunnan [native to tropical America;

cultivated throughout the tropics].

This is a rapidly growing tree, which is usually cultivated orna-

mentally; the flowers are fragrant.

5. Senna hirsuta (Linnaeus) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Phytologia

44: 499. 1979.

毛荚决明 mao jia jue ming

Cassia hirsuta Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 378. 1753.

Herbs or shrubs, 0.6–2.5 m tall. Young branches, petioles,

and rachises of leaves densely yellowish brown villous. Leaves

10–20 cm; petiole 3–6 cm, with a sessile, blackish brown,

ovoid-oblong gland near insertion; rachis 7–10 cm, without

glands; leaflets 3–7 pairs, ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate,

3–9 × 1.5–3.5 cm, papery, both surfaces villous, base sub-

rounded, apex acuminate. Racemes axillary or several in axils

of apical leaves forming a leafy panicle; peduncles and pedicels

villous; bracts early caducous, subulate, hairy. Sepals 5, unequal

in size, densely villous, 2 outer small, ovate to obovate, ca. 5

mm, 3 inner puberulent, similar but larger, 7–8 mm. Petals yel-

low, obovate, 1.4–1.8 cm, glabrous. Stamens 10, 6 or 7 of

them fertile, unequal in length, anthers opening by apical pores,

staminodes 3 or 4. Ovary hirsute, subsessile; style short, gla-

brous; stigma small. Legume long, slender, flat, 10–20 × ca. 0.5

cm, densely hirsute on surfaces of valves. Seeds numerous, flat,

obovoid, 3–4 mm. 2n = 14, 28.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Yunnan [native to tropical America;

introduced in the tropics elsewhere].

6. Senna occidentalis (Linnaeus) Link, Handb. 2: 140. 1831.

望江南 wang jiang nan

Cassia occidentalis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 377. 1753.

Subshrubs or shrubs, erect, 0.8–1.5 m tall, glabrous, few

branched. Branches herbaceous, ribbed; roots blackish. Leaves

ca. 20 cm; stipules caducous, triangular to lanceolate, 1–2 cm,

membranous; petiole 3–4 cm, with a large, brown, ovoid gland

near base; petiolule 1–2 mm, with a rotten smell when kneaded;

leaflets 3–5(or 6) pairs, ovate to ovate-oblong, 4–10 × 2–3.5

cm, membranous, base rounded, apex acuminate. Corymbose

racemes few flowered, axillary or terminal, ca. 5 cm; bracts

caducous, linear-lanceolate. Flowers ca. 2 cm. Sepals unequal,

outer ones suborbicular, ca. 6 mm in diam., inner ones ovate, 8–

9 mm. Petals yellow, purplish veined, 2 outer slightly larger,

shortly clawed. Fertile stamens 7, anthers opening by apical

pores, reduced stamens 3, without anthers or with tiny anthers.

Ovary tomentose; style glabrous. Legume brown, with pale

thick margins, strap-shaped, falcate, flattened, 10–13 × ca. 1

cm, with septa between seeds. Seeds 30–40, flat, orbicular, 3–4

mm in diam. 2n = 24, 26*, 28*, 56*.

Among shrubs on riverbanks, wilderness tracts, hills, sparse for-

ests, wastelands near villages. S regions of China [native to tropical

America; widely introduced in the tropics and subtropics elsewhere].

7. Senna sophera (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832, 2:

347. 1832.

槐叶决明 huai ye jue ming

Cassia sophera Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 379. 1753; Senna

occidentalis (Linnaeus) Link var. sophera (Linnaeus) X. Y.

Zhu.

Shrubs, 1–2(–3) m tall, glabrous. Leaves 7–18(–21) cm;

petiole 3–5 cm, with a subulate or narrow clavate gland 5–10

mm above petiole joint; petiolules ca. 2 mm; leaflets 4–10 pairs,

lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 1.7–4.2 × 0.7–2 cm, base

rounded, apex acute to shortly acuminate. Corymbs axillary,

few flowered; peduncles 1–2 cm; bracts ovate, ca. 5 mm; pedi-

cels 1–1.5 cm. Sepals ovate-orbicular, ca. 5 mm. Petals yellow,

obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, 6 or 7 fertile, 2 longer;

anthers opening by apical pores; staminodes 3 or 4, ca. 2 mm.

Ovary finely pubescent. Legume straight, 5–10 × 0.5–1 cm,

flattened and slightly thick at first, subcylindric, ± swollen

when ripe. Seeds 30–40, ovoid, compressed. 2n = 28.

Mountain slopes, roadsides. C and S China [native to tropical

Asia; widely introduced in the tropics and subtropics elsewhere].

The young leaves and legumes are edible. The seeds are used

medicinally for fever reduction.

8. Senna nomame (Makino) T. C. Chen, comb. nov.

豆茶决明 dou cha jue ming

Basionym: Cassia mimosoides Linnaeus var. nomame

Makino, J. Jap. Bot. 1(5): 17. 1917; C. nomame (Makino)

Kitagawa; Chamaecrista nomame (Makino) H. Ohashi, nom.

superfl.

Herbs, annual, 30–60 cm tall, slightly hairy, branched or

not. Leaves 4–8 cm, with a blackish brown, discoid, sessile

gland in upper part of petioles; leaflets 8–28 pairs, ligulate-

lanceolate, 5–9 mm, slightly asymmetric. Flowers inserted in

axils of leaves, with pedicels, solitary or 2 to several in short

racemes. Sepals 5, free, outside sparsely pubescent. Petals 5,

yellow. Stamens 4, sometimes 5. Ovary densely puberulent.

Legume compressed, dehiscent, 3–8 × ca. 0.5 cm, hairy, 6–12-

seeded. Seeds compressed, subrhomboid, smooth.

Mountain slopes, open grassy fields. Anhui, Hebei, Heilongjiang,

Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Sichuan,

Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

9. Senna fruticosa (Miller) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New

York Bot. Gard. 35: 121. 1982.

大叶决明 da ye jue ming

Cassia fruticosa Miller, Gard. Dict., ed. 8, Cassia no. 10.

1768.

Shrubs or small trees, ca. 3 m tall. Branches grayish white,

glabrous. Leaves 12–18 cm, with an oblong, convex gland on

rachis between lower pair of leaflets; stipules early caducous,

linear, 3–4 mm; petiolules 3–4 mm; leaflets 2 pairs, obliquely

oblong-ovate, 4–16.5 × 2–7 cm, membranous, both surfaces

pubescent when young, abaxially puberulent when old, base

obliquely cuneate, very unequally sided, midvein near upper

side, apex acute to acuminate. Racemes short, densely flow-

ered, to 6 cm, in axils of apical leaves, several racemes forming

a leafy panicle; bracts early caducous, narrowly lanceolate.

Sepals yellowish green, often tinged with red, oblong-obovate,

outside puberulent. Petals orange-yellow, broadly obovate to

orbicular, 2–2.5 cm, both sides pubescent. Fertile stamens 6 or

7, opening by apical pores, upper 3 stamens usually absent.

Ovary linear, densely appressed whitish pubescent. Legume

pendulous on a short stout stipe, terete, 15–25 × 1–1.5 cm,

slightly annulate, with a beak ca. 1 cm on top. Seeds 80–100,

dark brown, compressed, ovoid, 5–6 mm, embedded in a foetid,

black pulp. 2n = 28.

Cultivated in Guangdong [native to tropical America].

10. Senna multijuga (Richard) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem.

New York Bot. Gard. 35: 492. 1982.

密叶决明 mi ye jue ming

Cassia multijuga Richard, Actes Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris 1:

108. 1782.

Shrubs, small trees, or trees, 7–20(–40) m tall. Young parts

generally puberulent; branchlets reddish brown when dry.

Leaves 12–20 cm; stipules early caducous, linear; rachis and

petiole puberulent, with a long, ovoid gland on rachis between

lowest pair of leaflets (often early caducous); leaflets 10–

26(–50) pairs, linear-oblong or oblong, 1.2–4 × 0.6–0.8 cm,

both surfaces puberulent or adaxially glabrous, apex obtusely

rounded, mucronate, slightly oblique. Racemes several,

arranged in a terminal, leafy panicle 10–20(–40) cm; peduncle

and pedicels puberulent. Flowers 2.5–4 cm in diam.; bracts

ovate, ca. 2 mm, tomentose. Sepals greenish yellow when ma-

ture, slightly unequal, 5–6 mm. Petals yellow, ovate-oblong, 1–

2(–3) cm, glabrous. Fertile stamens 7, 3 larger, with filament ca.

10 mm and anthers 6–7 mm, staminodes 3, tiny. Ovary linear,

glabrous. Legume dark brown, flat, broadly linear, obtuse.

Seeds 30–60, flattened, ca. 6 mm.

Cultivated in Guangdong (Guangzhou) [native to tropical Ameri-

ca; widely cultivated in the tropics].

11. Senna sulfurea (Colladon) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem.

New York Bot. Gard. 35: 78. 1982.

粉叶决明 fen ye jue ming

Cassia sulfurea Colladon, Hist. Nat. Méd. Casses, 84.

1816; C. glauca Lamarck; C. surattensis N. L. Burman subsp.

glauca (Lamarck) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen; Senna surattensis

(N.

L. Burman) H. S. Irwin & Barneby

subsp. glauca (Lamarck)

X. Y. Zhu.

Shrubs, large, or small trees. Young shoots pilose, later

glabrescent. Leaves 15–30 cm, with a clavate gland 1–2 mm on

rachis between each of lowest 2 pairs of leaflets; stipules cadu-

cous, linear; petiole 3.5–6.5 cm; petiolules ca. 3 mm; leaflets

4–6 pairs, usually 5 pairs, abaxially farina-white, adaxially

greenish, ovate or elliptic, 3.5–10 × 2.5–4 cm, base broadly

cuneate or subrounded, apex obtusely rounded or inconspicu-

ously emarginate. Racemes in axils of leaves in upper part of

branches; peduncles 3–10 cm; rachis 1–6 cm; bracts ovate, 3–8

mm, apex acute, finally reflexed. Pedicels 1–3 cm. Sepals green

to reddish brown, unequal, outer 2 suborbicular, ca. 3 mm in

diam., inner 3 obovate, 6–9 mm. Petals bright yellow (drying

orange or pinkish brown), ovate or obovate, 1.5–2.5 cm, 5-

veined, clawed. Stamens 10, all fertile, with short, thick fila-

ments, lowest 2 with longer filaments; anthers subequal,

opening by short, apical slits. Ovary hairy; style glabrous. Leg-

ume glossy, flat, straight, strap-shaped, dehiscent, 12–20 × 1.2–

1.8 cm, with long, slender beak on top, valves papery. Seeds

20–30, oblong-elliptic, ca. 7 × 4 mm.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, ?Guizhou, Yunnan [native to

India, Laos, Malaysia (Peninsular), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Aus-

tralia, Pacific islands (Polynesia); now naturalized in the neotropics].

12. Senna surattensis (N. L. Burman) H. S. Irwin & Barneby,

Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 81. 1982.

黄槐决明 huang huai jue ming

Cassia surattensis N. L. Burman, Fl. Indica, 97. 1768.

Shrubs or small trees, 5–7 m tall. Bark grayish brown,

smooth; young branches, petioles, and rachises of leaves pu-

berulent. Leaves 10–15 cm, with 2 or 3 clavate, long glands 1–2

mm on rachis between lowest 2 or 3 pairs of leaflets and in

upper part of petiole; stipules subpersistent, linear, 5–10 mm;

leaflets 6–9 pairs, abaxially farina-white, ovate to ovate-oblong,

2–5 × 1–1.7 cm, abaxially sparsely pubescent, adaxially gla-

brous, base rounded, apex rounded, slightly emarginate. Ra-

cemes in axils of apical leaves, 3–6 cm, 10–15-flowered; pe-

duncles 2.5–5 cm; bracts ovate-oblong, 5–8 mm, outside puber-

ulent, finally reflexed. Pedicels 1–2 cm. Sepals unequal, 2 outer

suborbicular, ca. 3 mm in diam., 3 inner obovate, to 7 mm.

Petals bright yellow to deep yellow, subequal, ovate to obovate,

1.5–2 cm, with long claw 1–1.5 mm. Stamens 10, all fertile,

with short, thick filaments, lowest 2 filaments longer; anthers

oblong, subequal, 5–7 mm, opening by apical slits. Ovary pu-

berulent; style glabrous. Legume flat, strap-shaped, dehiscent,

7–10 × 0.8–1.5 cm, long slender beaked, valves papery. Seeds

10–25, glossy, flattened. 2n = 48, 56.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Hainan, Taiwan,

Yunnan, ?Zhejiang [native to India; widely introduced and cultivated

elsewhere].

13. Senna septemtrionalis (Viviani) H. S. Irwin & Barneby,

Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 365. 1982.

光叶决明 guang ye jue ming

Cassia septemtrionalis Viviani, Elench. Pl. 14. 1802; C.

laevigata Willdenow.

Shrubs or small trees, 1–4 m tall. Young branches green,

smooth, glabrous. Leaves ca. 15 cm; rachis 6–12 cm, with a

clavate or conical gland between all except upper pair of leaf-

lets; stipules early caducous, linear; leaflets 3 or 4 pairs, abax-

ially farina-white, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5–11 × 2–3.5 cm,

both surfaces glabrous, base cuneate or narrowly cuneate,

sometimes oblique, apex acute to acuminate. Racemes axillary

or terminal, 4–10-flowered, 5–10 cm including peduncle 2.5–5

cm; bracts caducous, linear-lanceolate, 2–5 mm. Pedicels 1.5–

2.5 cm. Sepals yellowish green, ovate-elliptic, unequal, inner 8–

10 mm, outer shorter. Petals bright yellow, ovate-orbicular, 1–

1.5(–2) cm, shortly clawed. Fertile stamens 7, unequal, anthers

opening by apical pores; 3 staminodes with anthers flat, subor-

bicular, non-functional. Ovary glabrous; style linear. Legume

terete, 6–10 × ca. 1 cm, slightly subquadrangular when fully

mature, valves subleathery, tardily dehiscent. Seeds 50–70,

olive-colored, glossy, obovoid, flat, 5–6 mm.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi [native to tropical America;

widely cultivated in the tropics].

14. Senna tora (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832, 2: 340.

1832.

决明 jue ming

Cassia tora Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 376. 1753.

Herbs, suffrutescent, annual, erect, 1–2 m tall. Leaves 4–

8 cm; stipules caducous, linear, 10–15 mm; petiole without

glands; rachis with a club-shaped gland between leaflets; petio-

lules 1.5–2 mm; leaflets 3 pairs, obovate or obovate-oblong, 2–

6 × 1.5–2.5 cm, membranous, abaxially pubescent, adaxially

sparsely pubescent, base cuneate to rounded and oblique, apex

rounded, cuspidate. Racemes axillary, short, 1- or 2(or 3)-flow-

ered; peduncles 6–10 mm; bracts linear, acute. Pedicels 1–1.5

cm. Sepals ovate or ovate-oblong, 5–8 mm, membranous, out-

side pubescent. Petals yellow, unequal, obovate, lower 2

slightly longer, 12–15 × 5–7 mm, shortly clawed. Fertile sta-

mens 7, nearly equal, filaments 1.5–2 mm, anthers opening by

apical pores, ca. 4 mm, 3 larger, 4 smaller, staminodes absent.

Ovary sessile, densely white pubescent; style glabrous. Legume

terete, subtetragonous, slender, 10–15 × 0.3–0.5 cm, both ends

acuminate, valves membranous. Seeds 20–30, glossy, rhom-

boid, ca. 5 × 3 mm, with an areole. 2n = 26*, 28*, 56*.

Mountain slopes, wastelands, riverbank sand. Widespread to S of

the Chang Jiang [native to tropical America; widely cultivated in the

tropics and subtropics].

The seeds known as “jue ming zi” (决明子) are used medicinally

as a diuretic and purgative.

In addition, X. Y. Zhu et al. (Legumes China, 32. 2007) recorded

Senna obtusifolia (Linnaeus) H. S. Irwin & Barneby as widely culti-

vated in China (as S. tora var. obtusifolia (Linnaeus) X. Y. Zhu).

short with filaments ca. 1 mm and anthers 4–5 mm; 3 stami-

nodes with minute anthers. Ovary with glabrous stalk and style.

Legume brown, terete, straight or slightly curved, 9–17 × 1–1.5

cm, tardily dehiscent, valves membranous. Seeds 50–60, olive-

green, ovoid, flattened, 5–7 mm.

Cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [native to tropical

America; widely cultivated in the tropics].

15. Senna bicapsularis (Linnaeus)

Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed.

1832, 2: 342. 1832.

双荚决明 shuang jia jue ming

Cassia bicapsularis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 376. 1753.

Shrubs, erect, to 3 m tall, much branched. Crown

spreading, with pendent or sometimes climbing twigs. Leaves

7–12 cm, with 3 or 4 pairs of leaflets; stipules caducous, nar-

rowly lanceolate, subulate, 1–3 mm; petiole 2.5–4 cm, slender;

rachis with a blackish brown, clavate to ovoid gland between

lowest pair of leaflets; leaflets obovate or obovate-oblong, 1.5–

4 × 1–2.5 cm, membranous, glabrous, base obliquely cuneate,

apex obtusely rounded. Racemes lax, in axils of apical leaves,

5–15 cm, slender; bracts early caducous. Sepals yellowish to

reddish brown, ovate, 5–10 mm. Petals yellow, obovate, 1.1–1.5

cm, very shortly clawed. Stamens 10, 7 fertile: 3 lower with

unequal filaments 2–10 mm, anthers large, curved, ca. 1 mm; 4