Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (FABACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
American Cassia, Popcorn Tree, Weeping Cassia, Spectacular Cassia

Description

Small tree to c. 10 m tall with sprawling and long slender branches. Leaves 20-35 cm long, 10-15 leaflets, minutely hairy below. Flowers 2-3.5 cm long, yellow on terminal clusters 20-60 cm long held upright. Fruits 18-25 cm long, cylindrical, pendulous green ripening glossy black, 50-70 seeds per pod.

Ecology

Dryland forest and in open areas, disturbed and secondary woodland and savannah. Often naturalised on waste ground.

Distribution

Native in tropical America.

Uses

Commonly planted in SE Asia as an attractive ornamental.