Senna tora
Content
Description
Herb or under shrub up to 1 m high, foetid smelling, almost glabrous.
Leaves with 3 pairs of leaflets; petiole 1-4 cm; rachis 2-3 cm with a subulate, 2 mm long gland between the two lower pairs of leaflets.
Stipules setaceous, 10-15 mm, caducous.
Sepals subequal, ovate, 5 by 2-4 mm.
Petals yellow, unequal, obovate, short-clawed with rounded apex, up to 10 by 6 mm.
Stamens: 1 nearly equal, filaments 1.5-2 mm; anthers 3 larger, 4 smaller, 1.5-2.5 mm, opening by apical pores, the 3 larger abruptly rounded at apex; staminodes absent.
Ovary densely pubescent; style glabrous; stigma truncate.
Seeds 20-30, glossy, rhomboidal, 5 by 3 mm with an areole 1.5-2 mm wide covering much of the seed surface.
Taxonomy
The present species is very closely related to Senna obtusifolia and is habitually similar to that species. Senna obtusifolia is obviously rare and is often confused with S. tora. See also note 1 under S. obtusifolia.
Uses
Young leaves are eaten locally, e. g. in Sumatra; in Timor it is believed to improve the soil. In India the seeds are roasted as a substitute for coffee; for further information on local use as medicinal plant, see
Citation
Backer & Bakh. f. 1964 – In: Fl. Java: 539
Brenan 1958: Kew Bull.: 248
K. & S.S. Larsen 1980: p. 96. – In: Fl. Camb., Laos & Vietnam: pl. 16/9-11
K. & S.S. Larsen 1984: p. 117. – In: Fl. Thailand: f. 28/9-11
Verdc. 1979 – In: Manual New Guinea Leg., Lae Bot. Bull.: 56
Prain 1897 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 158, 475
Rudd 1991 – In: Fl. Ceylon: 83.
de Wit 1956 – In: Webbia: 276
Merr. 1921: Bibl. Enum. Born.: 300.