Senna petersiana, the monkey pod or eared senna, is an African deciduous shrub or small tree.[1][2] The leaves are compound with about 12 opposite lanceolate leaflets, dark green above and lighter below. Its copious bright yellow flowers are carried on erect multi-branched inflorescences.[2] The species was formerly placed in the genus Cassia.
Senna petersiana | |
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Senna petersiana in South Africa | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Genus: | Senna |
Species: | S. petersiana
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Binomial name | |
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock
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Synonyms | |
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It occurs naturally in Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini.[1] It was introduced to several Indian Ocean islands and became naturalized in far northern Madagascar.[3][4][5]