ranawara

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Matara-tea
• tanner's cassia
• matura tea tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassia auriculata
• Cassia densistipulata

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. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Senna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several key regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its range extends through the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Moving eastward, the species is also found within West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Furthermore, its distribution reaches into Northeast Tropical Africa, encompassing both Sudan and South Sudan. Together, these locations highlight the wide ecological spread of Sennas auriculata across various tropical zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Senna auriculata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, though its growth patterns can exhibit variability depending on environmental conditions and management. As a perennial species, it possesses the ability to persist through multiple growing seasons, often establishing a robust presence in its native habitats. The life cycle typically involves an initial vegetative phase where the plant develops its distinctive shrubby structure and pinnate leaves, followed by a reproductive phase marked by the emergence of bright yellow flowers. These flowers facilitate pollination, leading to the development of seed pods that ensure the continuation of the species through seed dispersal. While the plant maintains a long-term life cycle, its seasonal vigor and longevity may fluctuate, sometimes behaving with the characteristics of an annual or biennial in less stable or highly disturbed environments.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Senna auriculata is characterized by a woody growth form that presents as both a shrub and a tree-like structure. This plant exhibits a significant stature, reaching a mean height of approximately 5 m. While it possesses a sturdy, woody habit, its growth pattern is categorized as self-supporting, meaning it does not rely on other structures for climbing such as obligatory or facultative climbers.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sennna auriculata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized intermediate mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic strategy dictates its carbon assimilation efficiency and its specific adaptations to environmental light and temperature conditions. Furthermore, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium available within the soil matrix to fulfill its nitrogenous nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Senna auriculata is primarily driven by the production of seeds contained within its fruit structures. The reproductive efficiency of the species is characterized by highly consistent seed morphology, as evidenced by the seed mass data. The seeds exhibit a uniform weight with a mean seed mass of 0.02273 g, which is also reflected in both the minimum and maximum recorded seed mass values of 0.02273 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output, ensuring that each seed carries a standardized nutrient reserve to support early seedling establishment. This consistent seed weight is a critical factor in the plant's ability to colonize suitable habitats through seed dispersal.

Seed mass mean:

0.02273 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Senna auriculata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Parasitology research
3. Omics : a journal of integrative biology
4. Fitoterapia
5. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces

Flower

1. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics
2. Molecular and cellular biochemistry
3. Omics : a journal of integrative biology
4. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
5. Tropical biomedicine

Chemicals

Senna auriculata has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Terpenoids, methanol, quercetin.

Flavonoids

1. Natural product research
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Tannins

1. Natural product research
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Natural product research
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

methanol

1. Tropical biomedicine
2. Parasitology research

quercetin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

ANTHRAQUINONE

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

CATALASE

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

CHLOROFORM

1. Parasitology research

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Parasitology research

Epicatechin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Activities

Senna auriculata has 18 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic, Antioxidant, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial.

Antidiabetic

1. Omics : a journal of integrative biology
2. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antibacterial

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Anticancer

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antifertility

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antimutagenic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antiperoxidative

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Medicinal Uses

Senna auriculata has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, dysentery, rheumatism, skin disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations