Home > List of families > Fabaceae subfamily Caesalpinioideae > Senna > didymobotrya
Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby
Vumba rd before Westaway
Svisvi River bridge, Gokwe District.
Synonyms: Cassia didymobotrya Fresen.
Common names: Peanut butter cassia (English)
Frequency: Frequent
Status: Probably introduced
Shrub, 1-5(-9) m. Stipules broadly ovate-cordate, 8-12 mm wide, acuminate. Leaves foetid, smelling somewhat like peanut butter when crushed, usually 10-30 cm; petiole and rhachis eglandular. Leaflets in 8-18 pairs: lamina 2-6.5 × 0.6-2.5 cm, oblong-elliptic, pubescent; apex rounded to obtuse with a 1-3 mm mucro. Racemes including peduncle, 11-35 cm. Sepals dark brown. Petals 1.8-2.7 cm, bright yellow. Pod 8-12 × 1.5-2.5 cm, flattened.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: A weed of disturbed ground, often to be seen in Communal Lands.
Flowering time: All year
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in eastern and southern tropical Africa
Growth form(s): Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Images last updated: Saturday 20 February 2016
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 46 - 47. (Includes a picture).
Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 150 - 152. (Includes a picture).
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 265. (Includes a picture).
Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 212. as Cassia didymobotrya
Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 243. As Cassia didymobotrya
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 didymobotrya:
Flora of Malawi: Senna didymobotrya
Flora of Mozambique: Senna didymobotrya
Flora of Zambia: Senna didymobotrya
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Senna didymobotrya
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Senna didymobotrya
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Senna didymobotrya
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Senna didymobotrya
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Senna didymobotrya
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Senna didymobotrya
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Senna didymobotrya
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Senna didymobotrya
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Senna didymobotrya
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Senna didymobotrya
Ispot Southern Africa: Senna didymobotrya
JSTOR Plant Science: Senna didymobotrya
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Senna didymobotrya
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Senna didymobotrya
The Plant List (version 1.1): Senna didymobotrya
Tropicos: Senna didymobotrya
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2019). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Senna didymobotrya.