candelabra-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• candelabra-tree
• peanut-butter cassia
• African Wild Cassia
• African senna
• Chemagro
• Peanut Butter Cassia
• popcorn cassia
• popcorn senna

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassia didymobotrya
• Cassia bracteosa
• Cassia verdickii
• Chamaesenna didymobotrya

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is further categorized into the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Senna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across different regions of Africa and its surrounding islands. Within the Macaronesia region, it can be found specifically in the Canary Islands. Its presence extends into West Tropical Africa, where it inhabits territories such as Benin and Gambia. Furthermore, the species is documented in West-Central Tropical Africa. In this central region, its distribution includes the countries of Burundi and Rwanda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Senna didymobotrya is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1350 m AMSL. While specific primary habitat classifications are often subject to localized environmental variations, the species typically colonizes diverse landscapes within this elevational belt, often appearing in disturbed areas, open woodlands, or scrublands where sunlight is abundant. Its distribution from 0 to 1350 m AMSL suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing it to adapt to varying thermal and moisture regimes found across different lowland and mid-elevation tropical or subtropical ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

(?)

Genetics

The genetics of Senna didymobotrya are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that serves as a fundamental component of its cytogenetic profile. The species possesses a diploid chromosome number of 28, a genomic stability that influences its reproductive biology and evolutionary lineage within the Fabaceae family. This set of 28 chromosomes provides the structural framework for the inheritance of various phenotypic traits and biochemical pathways responsible for its medicinal properties. The precise arrangement and regulation of this genetic material underpin the plant's ability to express specific metabolic profiles, ensuring the continuity of its unique genetic identity through successive generations.

Chromosome number :

28

Life history

The life history of Senna didymobotrya is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte classifications, which indicates that its perennating buds are located well above the ground level. As a deciduous species, the plant undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, a trait that often aligns with environmental changes or dry periods. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a phanerophyte life form enables the plant to maintain a structural presence in its habitat while adapting its physiological state through periodic deciduousness.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Senna didymo borya is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of structural support, it is a self-supporting species, lacking the climbing or epiphytic tendencies of vines or hemi-epiphytes. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 7 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 5.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

5.5 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Senna didymobotrya is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and energy production processes. Its vegetative morphology is defined by elliptic-shaped leaves that exhibit significant dimensional variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 0.6 cm to 2.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a specialized nutritional capacity through its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, facilitating the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms to support its metabolic requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Senna didymoebotrya is characterized by a versatile flowering period that can span from January through December, though the specific timing is variable. The plant produces yellow flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence, with individual flowers measuring between 1.7 cm and 2.7 cm in length. These flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for pollination. Once fertilized, which can occur via self-fertilization as it is present in this species, the plant develops a pod-type fruit. These pods are dehiscient and vary in size, with lengths ranging from 7 cm to 12 cm and widths between 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm. The dispersal of the plant follows an autochorous syndrome, meaning it employs self-dispersal mechanisms. The resulting seeds are relatively small, featuring a length between 6 mm and 8 mm and a mass ranging from a minimum of 0.036 g to a maximum of 0.0762 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0529 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

2.7 cm

Flower length min:

1.7 cm

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

2.5 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

8 mm

Seed length min:

6 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0762 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0528664285 g

Seed mass min:

0.036 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Senna didymobotrya has 4 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, flower, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Journal of parasitology research
3. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Flower

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Root

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Stem

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Senna didymobotrya has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Terpenes, 7,4'-dihydroxy-3,5,3'-trimethoxyflavone, Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoids.

Tannins

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Journal of helminthology

Terpenes

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Journal of helminthology

7,4'-dihydroxy-3,5,3'-trimethoxyflavone

1. Phytochemistry

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Flavonoids

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

GLYCOPROTEIN

1. The Biochemical journal

Peroxidase

1. The Biochemical journal

Saponins

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Steroids

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Conditions

Senna didymobotrya has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include C. parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, East coast fever, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae.

C. parapsilosis

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Candida glabrata

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

East coast fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Escherichia coli

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Staphylococcus aureus

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Anaplasmosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bacterial infections

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Senna didymobotrya has 7 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Acetone, aqueous extract, cell suspension cultures, ethanol extract, extracts.

Acetone

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Aqueous extract

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Cell suspension cultures

1. The Biochemical journal

Ethanol extract

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Extracts

1. Journal of helminthology

Leaves and pods

1. Journal of parasitology research

Suspension cultures

1. Phytochemistry