Cassia thyrsoidea Brenan

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

Morphology General Habit

Tree 4.8–18 m. high (or, fide Burtt 4534, a semi-scandent shrub to 4.5 m.).

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets densely pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole and rhachis eglandular, the latter 14.2–26 cm. long. Leaflets in 6–8 pairs, petiolulate, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 4.5–11.5 cm. long, 2.1–6 cm. wide, with crisped but not appressed pubescence beneath especially on midrib and nerves, sometimes tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences similar to those of 7, C. afrofistula, with racemes to 15–27 cm. long, but with dense olivaceous pubescence, sometimes with a somewhat silvery sheen on the sepals.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts persisting till the flowers are open, 8–11 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, ± 1.5–2.6 cm. long and 1–2.2 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods subcylindrical, attenuate at apex, somewhat so at base, ± 32–42 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. in diameter, sparsely pubescent to subglabrous, blackish-brown, transversely but not longitudinally partitioned within.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds embedded in pulp, brown, ± 7 mm. long, 6 mm. wide and 3 mm. thick.

Habitat

Riverine forest; 900–1370 m.

Distribution

T5 T8

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian forest

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

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 to 8 m (18 m in East Africa) tall.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets brown, longitudinally ridged when dry, sparsely pubescent, glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate; stipules not seen, very early caducous; petiole 4.5–7.2(9) cm long, sparsely to densely pubescent; rachis 16–22.5 cm long,>i> sparsely pubescent;>i> leaflets opposite, in 6–7 pairs,>i> 4.5–11.5 × 2.4–5.2 cm, the distal pair the largest, ovate to ovate-elliptic, slightly asymmetric,>i> apex bluntly acute, base cuneate, sometimes asymmetric, glabrous above, pubescent beneath particularly on the main veins;>i> venation raised on both surfaces>i>.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, paniculate; axis puberulous;>i> bracts c.8 × 1.5 mm, very narrowly triangular, densely puberulous; bracteoles similar, slightly smaller; bracts and bracteoles persisting until anthesis; pedicel (2)3–3.5 cm long at anthesis.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 5, 8–10 × 4–5 mm, broadly elliptic, densely puberulous outside, shortly puberulous inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, c.25 mm in diameter, subcircular, claw c.3 mm long.>i> Stamens 10, filaments glabrous, those of 3 stamens c.25 mm long, of 4 stamens 6–8 mm long, of 3 stamensc.4 mm long; anthers of 7 longer stamens 5 mm long, those of the 3 shortest stamens smaller.>i> Ovary c.35 mm long and 1–2 mm in diameter, filiform, densely sericeous-pubescent, multiovulate; stipe c.4 mm long; stigma terminal, recessed>i>.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod (according to Brenan) blackish brown, 32–42 cm long, 1–1.5 cm in diameter, subcylindrical, attenuate at apex, somewhat so at base, sparsely pubescent to subglabrous, transversely but not longitudinally partitioned within.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown, c.7 × 6 × 3 mm.