Cassia alata

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Christmas Candle
• Ringworm Bush
• Christmas-candle
• candlebush
• candlestick senna
• empress-candleplant
• ringworm senna
• ringwormshrub
• seven-golden-candles
• seven-golden-candlesticks
• Candelabra Bush
• Candlestick Plant
• Empress Candle Plant
• Golden Candlestick
• emperor's candlesticks

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Herpetica alata
• Cassia alata var. perennis
• Cassia alata var. rumphiana
• Cassia alata
• Cassia bracteata
• Herpetica rumphiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Senna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across the region of West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its presence is documented within the borders of Benin. It can also be found growing in the landscapes of Burkina and Gambia. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the territory of Ghana. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the country of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Senna alata is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and various vegetation types. It thrives across a wide range of habitats, ranging from anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) and open landscapes like Campo Limpo and Restinga, to more complex forest ecosystems including Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (Pluvial), and Floresta Ombrófila Mista. This broad ecological plasticity allows the species to colonize both disturbed sites and established natural biomes. Furthermore, the species occupies a significant altitudinal gradient, distributed from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Senna alata are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations and varying levels of genomic complexity. The species exhibits distinct chromosome numbers, with recorded values of 12, 24, and 28, reflecting potential variations within populations or evolutionary lineages. Despite these variations in chromosome counts, the plant is fundamentally categorized with a ploidy level of 2, indicating a diploid state in its standard genetic framework.

Chromosome number :

12, 24, 28

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Senna alata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, exhibiting a growth pattern that allows it to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its buds are elevated above the ground level, contributing to its structural presence in its natural habitat. The plant follows a deciduous growth habit, undergoing seasonal foliage changes where it sheds its leaves. Its biological classification as a phanerophyte is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring its reproductive and vegetative structures remain prominent throughout its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Senna alata is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Senna alata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure includes leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 19 cm, and widths spanning from 3.5 cm to 9.5 cm. In terms of water storage and tissue structure, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining non-succulent foliage typical of its metabolic profile. Furthermore, Senna alata is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess the biological mechanisms to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form through symbiotic relationships.

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

9.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Senna alata is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects such as bees. The plant produces vibrant yellow flowers that range in length from 15 cm to a maximum of 60 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod, which is a dehiscent structure. These pods exhibit significant morphological variation, with lengths ranging from 11 cm to 19 cm and widths between 0.4 cm and 3 cm. The seeds contained within these pods are relatively small, featuring a length between 5.5 mm and 6.8 mm. The seed mass is also finely scaled, with a minimum weight of 0.033 g, a maximum of 0.055 g, and a mean mass of approximately 0.0385 g. For dispersal, the plant utilizes a zoochorous strategy, specifically through endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed via the internal passage through animals.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

60 cm

Flower length min:

15 cm

Fruit length max:

19 cm

Fruit length min:

11 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

3 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

6.8 mm

Seed length min:

5.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.055 g

Seed mass mean:

0.038544286 g

Seed mass min:

0.033 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Senna alata has 5 reported plant parts identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, root, flower, seed.

Leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Malaria journal
3. African health sciences
4. Letters in applied microbiology
5. PloS one

Stem

1. Fitoterapia
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Root

1. African health sciences
2. Fitoterapia

Flower

1. Fitoterapia

Seed

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Senna alata has 41 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aloe emodin, Rhein, emodin, kaempferol, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

Aloe emodin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. PloS one

Rhein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. PloS one

emodin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

kaempferol

1. Drug design, development and therapy
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Planta

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

naringenin

1. Planta
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quercetin

1. Drug design, development and therapy
2. Planta

1,8-Cineole

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

7,4'-Dihydroxyflavone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ANTHRAQUINONE

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Activities

Senna alata has 138 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral, Anthelmintic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. PloS one
4. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
5. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cellular and molecular biology
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Drug design, development and therapy
2. Cellular and molecular biology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
5. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antidiabetic

1. Drug design, development and therapy
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimicrobial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Biomolecules & therapeutics

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Laxative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Conditions

Senna alata has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, Atopic dermatitis, Hymenolepis diminuta, acne vulgaris, asthma.

Malaria

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Atopic dermatitis

1. Biomolecules & therapeutics

Hymenolepis diminuta

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Acne vulgaris

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Asthma

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Bacterial diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Constipation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Eczema

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Helminthiasis

1. Experimental parasitology

Preparations

Senna alata has 41 reported preparations identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts of leaves, water extracts, An extract prepared from the leaves of the plant, Cassia alata extract, Cassia alata extract (CAE).

Ethanolic extracts of leaves

1. Mycoses
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water extracts

1. Cellular and molecular biology
2. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

An extract prepared from the leaves of the plant

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Cassia alata extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cassia alata extract (cae)

1. Microscopy research and technique

Cassia alata leaf extracts (cae)

1. Microscopy research and technique

Crude extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic extracts

1. PloS one

Ether root extract

1. African health sciences

Hf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM