Senna artemisioides
- "Blunt-leaved senna" (and spelling variants) redirects here. This name is also used for Senna obtusifolia, a large shrub common in warm humid regions.
| Senna artemisioides | |
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| Senna artemisioides ssp. quadrifolia | |
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| Species: | S. artemisioides
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| Binomial name | |
| Senna artemisioides | |
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Cassia artemisioides Gaudich. ex DC. | |
Senna artemisioides is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is commonly known as silver senna,[1] silver cassia or feathery cassia - although "cassia" generally refers to the largest-growing Cassiinae. Some of its distinct subspecies also have common names of their own. This plant is endemic to Australia, where it is found in all mainland states and territories.
Description
This is a shrub that grows up to 3 metres in height. It has pinnate leaves with between 1 and 8 pairs of leaflets. It produces an abundance of yellow flowers in winter and spring which are about 1.5 cm in diameter, followed by 2 to 7 cm long flat green pods which age to dark brown.
The species adapts to a wide range of climatic conditions, although it is susceptible to frost, particularly when young. It prefers dry, well drained sites with full sun. As an ornamental plant, it is propagated readily from seed, which should first be soaked in boiling water.[2]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]
Taxonomy and systematics
The species was first described in 1825 by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré based on work by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle and placed in Cassia, but nowadays it has been moved to Senna. However, for a long time this plant was erroneously known as Cassia eremophila which is a true species of Cassia called desert cassia, described by Julius Rudolph Theodor Vogel.
A large number of formerly independent species are provisionally considered subspecies of S. artemisioides:
- ssp. alicia Randell
- ssp. artemisioides
- ssp. filifolia Randell
- ssp. helmsii (Symon) Randell – Blunt-leaved cassia
- ssp. oligophylla (F.Muell.) Randell – Blunt-leaved cassia
- ssp. petiolaris Randell woody cassia
- ssp. quadrifolia Randell
- (Senna quadrifolia Burm. is a synonym of Chamaecrista absus)
- ssp. sturtii (R.Br.) Randell – Sturt's cassia[4]
- ssp. zygophylla (Benth.) Randell
Some hybridogenic subspecies have also been named:
- nothosubsp. × artemisioides [5]
- ssp. × coriacea (Benth.) Randell[6]
- nothosubsp. × coriacea (Benth.) Randell[7]
- (Cassia coriacea Benth. is a synonym of Chamaecrista coriacea)
- nothosubsp. × sturtii (R.Br.) Randell[8]
In addition, there are apparently at least 2 undescribed taxa:
- Senna artemisioides "James Range (P.L.Latz 18528)"
- Senna artemisioides "Kuyunba (B.Pitts 113)"
Altogether, S. artemisioides might be best considered a form taxon whose phylogenetic diversity is still largely unresolved.
References
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Senna artemisioides". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ "Senna artemisoides". Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). Retrieved 2007-12-22.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Senna artemisioides". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- ^ "Cassia sturtii R.Br". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
- ^ "Senna artemisioides (Gaudich. ex DC.) Randell nothosubsp. X artemisioides". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Senna artemisioides subsp. X coriacea (Benth.) Randell". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Senna artemisioides nothosubsp. X coriacea (Benth.) Randell". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Senna artemisioides nothosubsp. X sturtii (R.Br.) Randell". Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)
Further reading
- "Senna artemisioides (Gaudich. ex DC.) Randell". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- "Senna artemisioides". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP): Senna artemisioides
External links
