| Wislizenus' Senna | |
|---|---|
| Flowering branch | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Apparently Secure (NatureServe) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Tribe: | Cassieae |
| Subtribe: | Cassiinae |
| Genus: | Senna |
| Species: | S. wislizeni |
| Binomial name | |
| Senna wislizeni (A.Gray) Irwin & Barneby |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Cassia wislizenii A.Gray |
|
Senna wislizeni is commonly called Wislizenus' Senna or Shrubby Senna (formerly "cassia", but this generally refers to larger Cassiinae). Formerly in the "wastebin taxon" Cassia sensu lato, it is now placed in the genus Senna or sometimes separated in Palmerocassia together with Senna unijuga[1].
This is a perennial, deciduous shrub native to Chihuahua and Hidalgo in Mexico; and Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the U.S. It is a desert plant with good heat and drought tolerance.
S. wislizeni can reach ten feet (3 meters) tall with a ten foot spread. It has compound foliage. In summer, especially late summer, it bears yellow flowers developing into long, flat, dark brown pods.
The species is named after Dr. F. A. Wislizenus, a botanist who studied Mexican flora in the mid-19th century.
There are several named varieties:[1]
