Senna divaricata (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Senna divaricata (Nees & Blume) Lock
- Family: Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae
Synonyms
Cassia divaricata Nees & Blume.
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: ontobogo, aringin, ketepeng (Javanese)
- Philippines: ataatab (Igorot).
Distribution
Probably native to South America. Introduced into Indonesia (Java, Bali) and the Philippines (Luzon).
Uses
Used as a green manure in coffee plantations and as a temporary wind-break.
Observations
Shrub, 2-5 m tall. Leaves with 6-11 pairs of leaflets; rachis with an orange-reddish gland between the lower and upper leaflet pairs; leaflets elliptical-oblong, 1.5-4.5 cm × 0.5-1.5 cm, apex obtuse or rounded. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, single or paired; peduncle 1.5-3 cm long, bearing 2-3 flowers; bracts caducous; petals broadly ovate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, bright yellow; stamens 10, 3 large and 7 smaller ones. Pod straight or curved, strap-shaped, 13-22.5 cm × 5-8 mm, 15-50-seeded. S. divaricata is found in Central and East Java, at 300-1700 m altitude, often along watercourses, on marshy soils, and in clearings, never very frequent. Dried leaves are delicately black punctate or mottled.
Selected sources
8, 43, 70.
Authors
M.S.M. Sosef & L.J.G. van der Maesen
