Senna hirsuta (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Zona Tea Estates, near Mt Selinda

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Synonyms:	Cassia hirsuta L.
Common names:	Woolly senna (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Herbaceous shrub, up to c. 2 m tall, sometimes softly woody near the base. Stems ridged, densely hairy. Leaves paripinnate with 4-5 pairs of leaflets; leaflets 2.8-10.5 cm long, terminal pair usually largest, elliptic to ovate, pointed at the apex, hairy on both surfaces; petiole 3-6.6 cm long densely hairy, with a single large cone-shaped gland near the base of the petiole. Stipules linear, 6-7 mm long, frilled with long hairs. Inflorescences axillary c. 3 cm long. Flowers orange-yellow with darker brown veins when older. Pods 6-13 cm long, straight or slightly curved, covered in long whitish hairs.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	hirsuta: covered with long, moderately stiff and not interwoven hairs; hirsute
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Apr - Jun
Worldwide distribution:	Native to South America and the West Indies. A widespread weed in tropical Africa and Asia.
Malawi distribution:	N,S
Growth form(s):	Annual, perennial, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bromilow, C. (2010). Problem Plants and Alien Weeds of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 179. (Includes a picture). Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 153 - 155. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 212. as Cassia hirsuta Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 243. As Cassia hirsuta Henderson, L. (2001). Alien weeds and invasive plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. Page 209. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 44.

Other sources of information about Senna hirsuta:

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Flora of Burundi: Senna hirsuta
Flora of Zimbabwe: Senna hirsuta

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Senna hirsuta
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Senna hirsuta
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Senna hirsuta
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Senna hirsuta
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Senna hirsuta
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Senna hirsuta
JSTOR Plant Science: Senna hirsuta
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Senna hirsuta
Plants of the World Online: Senna hirsuta
Tropicos: Senna hirsuta
Wikipedia: Senna hirsuta