Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/144273055/149030618

Conservation

LC - least concern

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit

Rather soft-wooded shrub, 2–4 m or more tall, unpleasant-smelling when fresh.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets dark brown, sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate; stipules 10–15 × 8–11 mm, broadly ovate, cordate at base, acuminate at apex, persistent; petioles 1.7–3.5(8.5) cm long, pubescent; rachis 10–25 cm long, pubescent; leaflets in 6–16 pairs, opposite, 21–55 × 6–20 mm, oblong, asymmetrically cuneate at base, acute and mucronate at apex, pubescent above and beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence an axillary raceme, axis 22–34 cm long; bracts present in bud, falling before anthesis, 10–16 × 8–13 mm, broadly ovate, base cordate, apex acute, apiculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, c.13 × 5 mm, elliptic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, yellow, with prominent darker veins particularly when dry, c.20 × 10 mm, broadly elliptic to obovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10, seven of them probably fertile, two of these with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.10 mm long, five with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.5 mm long; three probably infertile with filaments c.2 mm long and reduced anthers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c.12 mm long, densely pubescent; stipe c.5 mm long; style c.12 mm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods blackish, 8–10.4 × 1.8–2.4 cm, oblong, corrugated on the flat surface, very tardily dehiscent along both sutures.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dull brown, 6.5–7.5 × 3.5–5 mm, oblong, flattened, apiculate at the proximal end, with a narrowly obovate to oblong areole in the centre of each face.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

23.90% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Earle & Jones, 1962)

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident