Dwarf Cassia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dwarf Cassia
• Eared Cassia
• Monkey Pod
• Monkey Senna
• eared senna

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassia petersiana var. tomentosa
• Cassia petersiana
• Cassia delagoensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Sennna petersiana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Sennna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of West-Central and Northeast Tropical Africa. Within the West-Central region, its presence is documented in the Central African Republic and Cameroon. It can also be found in the mountainous terrains of Rwanda. Moving toward Northeast Tropical Africa, the species extends its reach into Ethiopia. Finally, its geographical range encompasses the territories of Sudan and South Sudan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Senna petrosiana is defined by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, spanning from lowland habitats to higher montane regions. This species is typically distributed within an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 50 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1200 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution suggests an adaptability to varying environmental conditions, including shifts in temperature, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressure found between these different elevations.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Senna petersiana is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it maintains its existence and biological functions over multiple years rather than completing its life cycle in a single growing season. As a long-lived species, it undergoes continuous developmental stages that allow it to establish a robust presence within its natural habitat. Its perennial nature enables the plant to endure seasonal fluctuations, often storing energy in its root systems or woody structures to support regrowth and reproductive efforts across successive years. This extended lifecycle facilitates a stable ecological role, as the plant can invest more heavily in complex structural growth and sustained flowering periods compared to annual or biennial species.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Senna petrosiana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant rather than a climber. The physical stature of the species varies, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.8 m to a maximum of 7 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

7 m

Plant height min:

0.8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Senna petersiana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. This metabolic strategy dictates its carbon assimilation efficiency and water-use patterns in varying environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, necessitating the uptake of nitrogen directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Senna petersiana is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological variations in weight. The seed mass within this species shows a documented range, with a minimum recorded weight of 0.03203 g and a maximum weight reaching 0.05458 g. On average, the seed mass is calculated at a mean value of 0.043305 g, indicating a relatively consistent distribution of reproductive units essential for the plant's dispersal and subsequent germination processes.

Seed mass max:

0.05458 g

Seed mass mean:

0.043305 g

Seed mass min:

0.03203 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Senna petersiana has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 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. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Root

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Stem

1. Journal of nematology

Chemicals

Senna petersiana has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hercynine, L-Lysine citrate, columnidin, gamma-linolenate, luteolin.

Hercynine

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

L-Lysine citrate

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

columnidin

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

gamma-linolenate

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

luteolin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Senna petersiana has 3 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cytotoxic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Senna petersiana has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, cancer.

Enterococcus faecalis

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Escherichia coli

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Cancer

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Triple-negative breast cancer

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Tuberculosis

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Preparations

Senna petersiana has 3 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and organic fractions, Dried leaves, Extracts.

Aqueous and organic fractions

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Dried leaves

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology