Long-tail Cassia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Long-tail Cassia
• sjambok-pod
• long-pod-cassia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and falls under the genus Cassia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the northeast, the species can be found in the tropical landscapes of Somalia. Its range extends further into East Tropical Africa, where it inhabits both Kenya and Tanzania. Finally, the distribution reaches into South Tropical Africa, particularly within the borders of Malawi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cassia abbreviata is characterized by its ability to thrive within specific altitudinal gradients, typically occupying habitats found between an elevation of 275 m AMSL and a maximum of 1200 m AMSL. Within this range, the species adapts to various environmental conditions, often favoring well-drained soils and specific moisture regimes common to its native tropical or subtropical landscapes. Its distribution is closely tied to these elevational parameters, which influence the temperature and humidity levels available to support its growth and reproductive cycles.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

275 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cassia abbreviata is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Throughout its existence, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, periodically shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal physiological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cassia abbreviata is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a tree. As a self-supporting species, it does not function as a climber or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. The plant operates as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant vertical variation, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 13 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

13 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cassia abbreviata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. This metabolic process is typical of most woody dicotyledonous plants within the Fabaceae family, relying on the enzyme RuBisCO for carbon assimilation. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, instead relying on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cassia abbreviata is characterized by the production of dry fruits that contain seeds with specific morphological properties. The seeds exhibit a consistent volume, recorded at a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 340 mm³, indicating a highly uniform size distribution within the species. In terms of mass, the seeds show a degree of variability, with a minimum mass of 0.20069 g, a maximum mass of 0.35697 g, and an average seed mass of approximately 0.3100575 g. These reproductive components are housed within fruits characterized by their dry texture, distinguishing them from fleshy fruit types.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass max:

0.35697 g

Seed mass mean:

0.3100575 g

Seed mass min:

0.20069 g

Seed volume max:

340 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cassia abbreviata has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of nematology
2. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Root

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Journal of nematology
2. The Central African journal of medicine

Chemicals

Cassia abbreviata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include histamine, polyphenols.

histamine

1. The Central African journal of medicine

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cassia abbreviata has 1 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient.

Abortifacient

1. The Central African journal of medicine

Conditions

Cassia abbreviata has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, blood pressure, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases, venereal diseases.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Blood pressure

1. The Central African journal of medicine

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sexually transmitted diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Venereal diseases

1. Tropical medicine and health

Preparations

Cassia abbreviata has 8 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, Aqueous and organic fractions, acetone extracts, crude extract of the stem bark, crude extracts.

Extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous and organic fractions

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Acetone extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude extract of the stem bark

1. The Central African journal of medicine

Crude extracts

1. The Central African journal of medicine

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology