Senna artemisioides

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"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

Senna artemisioides ssp. quadrifolia

Conservation status

Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Rosidae
(unranked)	Eurosids I
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Tribe:	Cassieae
Subtribe:	Cassiinae
Genus:	Senna
Species:	S. artemisioides

Binomial name

Senna artemisioides
(Gaudich. ex DC.) Randell

Synonyms

Cassia artemisioides Gaudich. ex DC.
Cassia eremophila sensu auct. non Vogel
Cassia helmsii Symon
Cassia oligophylla (F.Muell.)
Cassia sturtii R. Br.

Senna artemisioides is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is commonly known as Silver Cassia^[1] or Feathery Cassia^[2] - 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, except for Victoria.

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.^[3]

[edit] 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^[4]
ssp. oligophylla (F.Muell.) Randell – Blunt-leaved Cassia^[5]
ssp. petiolaris Randell Woody Cassia^[6]
ssp. quadrifolia Randell

(Senna quadrifolia Burm. is a synonym of Chamaecrista absus)

ssp. sturtii (R.Br.) Randell – Sturt's Cassia^[7]
ssp. zygophylla (Benth.) Randell

Some hybridogenic subspecies have also been named:

nothosubsp. × artemisioides ^[8]
ssp. × coriacea (Benth.) Randell^[9]
nothosubsp. × coriacea (Benth.) Randell^[10]

(Cassia coriacea Benth. is a synonym of Chamaecrista coriacea)

nothosubsp. × sturtii (R.Br.) Randell^[11]

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.

[edit] References

^ Senna artemisoides. PlantNET Flora of New South Wales. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Cassia artemisioides. University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna artemisoides. Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna form taxon 'helmsii'. PlantNET - Flora of New South Wales. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna form taxon 'oligophylla'. PlantNET - Flora of New South Wales. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna form taxon 'petiolaris'. PlantNET - Flora of New South Wales. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Cassia sturtii R.Br.. PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna artemisioides (Gaudich. ex DC.) Randell nothosubsp. X artemisioides. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna artemisioides subsp. X coriacea (Benth.) Randell. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna artemisioides nothosubsp. X coriacea (Benth.) Randell. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ Senna artemisioides nothosubsp. X sturtii (R.Br.) Randell. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.