Cassia burttii Baker f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 1–6(8) m tall.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets dark red-brown, longitudinally ridged, sparsely puberulous, glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate; stipules not seen, probably very early caducous; petiole 6–9 cm long, sparsely appressed-puberulous; rachis 13–25 cm long, sparsely appressed-puberulous; petiolules 3–5 mm long, sparsely puberulous; leaflets opposite, in 6–7 pairs, 4.8–9 × 3.2–5.3 cm, broadly ovate to elliptic, apex rounded or retuse, base rounded to broadly cuneate, sometimes slightly asymmetric, sparsely appressed-pubescent beneath, glabrescent; venation slightly prominent particularly beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, racemose, 18–50 cm long, simple or branched, pendulous; axis sparsely appressed-pubescent; bracts and bracteoles not seen, early caducous; pedicels 24–27 mm long at anthesis, sparsely appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 5, c.8 × 4 mm, elliptic to ovate, minutely puberulous inside and outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, white, 15–16 × 8–10 mm, elliptic to obovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10; filaments glabrous, three of them c.17 mm long, sigmoidally curved near the base and abruptly swollen near the middle with anthers 3 mm long, the rest 5–7 mm long, straight, anthers 1–2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary multiovulate, 15–17 mm long and 1–2 mm in diameter, filiform, densely sericeous-pubescent; stipe short; stigma terminal, recessed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod blackish, 40–60 × 1–1.5 cm, transversely septate, terete, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed shiny dark brown, c.10 × 8 × 2–3 mm, broadly obovate-elliptic, flattened.

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 1–6 m. high.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets minutely and inconspicuously puberulous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole and rhachis eglandular, the latter 15–24 cm. long. Leaflets in 5–8 pairs, petiolulate, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 3.5–10(–12) cm. long, 1.8–4.6(–7) cm. wide, minutely and inconspicuously appressed-puberulous beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 15–50 cm. long, pendulous, simple or branched, mostly lateral.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts falling while the buds are young.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals white, 1–2.4 cm. long, 0.6–1.2 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10; filaments of 3 lower each with an S-bend near base and an abrupt conspicuous swelling above the bend.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods ± 60 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. in diameter, similar to those of 7, C. afrofistula.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds embedded in pulp, chestnut-brown, ovate-orbicular or suborbicular, 8–10 × 7–9 × 3–5 mm., with slight reticulate cracking.

Habitat

Woodland, wooded grassland, thickets; 15–800 m.

Distribution

T6 T8

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone ; woodland., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transitional zone; wooded grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree