Senna cana

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassia cana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, falling into the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Senna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse range of locations across the South American landscape. Within the country of Brazil, its presence is notably established throughout the Brazil North region. It also thrives across the vast territories of Brazil West-Central. Furthermore, the species can be found growing within the Brazil Northeast area. Finally, its geographical reach extends into the Brazil Southeast portion of the nation.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Senna cana is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of Brazilian biomes and specialized environmental conditions. This species is widely distributed throughout various landscapes, ranging from the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu) to the more diverse Cerrado (lato sensu) and Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forests (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual). It demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying both stabilized natural environments and disturbed anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica). Furthermore, the plant is specifically adapted to niche habitats that require resilience to specific geological and hydrological conditions, such as Campo Rupestre and specialized vegetation growing over rocky outcrops (Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos), where it must contend with nutrient-poor soils and varying moisture availability.

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Life history

The life history of Senna cana is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its life cycle, it maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage continuously rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Senna canna is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, which functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber. It is an independent species, lacking any parasitic behavior, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, with no aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. Reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 4 m, the species maintains a robust, woody structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Senna cana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes for carbon fixation and energy production. Unlike plants utilizing C4 or CAM mechanisms, this species relies on the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly within the mesophyll cells during the Calvin cycle. Additionally, this plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia or other nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Senna cana is centered on the production of seeds that exhibit high levels of uniformity in their physical characteristics. The reproductive output is characterized by a highly consistent seed mass, with no observed variation between the minimum and maximum recorded weights. Specifically, the seed mass remains constant at a mean value of 0.00598 g, which is mirrored by both its maximum and minimum values of 0.00598 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy regarding the energetic investment per individual seed.

Seed mass mean:

0.00598 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

1. Biochemistry research international

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Senna cana has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Antioxidants, Chrysophanol, Flavonoids.

Antioxidants

1. Biochemistry research international

Chrysophanol

1. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. Biochemistry research international

Preparations

Senna cana has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hexane extract.

Hexane extract

1. Natural product research