The World Flora Online

Senna pendula var. advena (Vogel) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35: 389. 1982; Cassia indecora var. advena Vogel; C. indecora Kunth; C. bicapsularis var. indecora (Kunth) Benth.; C. bicapsularis var. pubescens Benth.; Adipera indecora (Kunth) Britton & Rose.

Arbustos arborescentes, 1–5 m de alto, cuando jóvenes difusos o rastreros, variablemente pilosos o glabros pero los folíolos generalmente pubescentes, al menos en el ángulo basal del nervio principal del envés. Hojas 6–13 cm de largo; folíolos 4 ó 5 pares, más largos distalmente, obovados, los del par distal 2–4.5 cm de largo y 1–2 cm de ancho; nectario elipsoide o subgloboso entre el par proximal y a veces en el segundo par de folíolos, raquis 1–6 cm de largo, pecíolos 15–40 mm de largo, estípulas linear-lanceoladas, caducas. Inflorescencias racimos en panículas tirsoides, exertas o proximalmente frondosas, simples o ramificadas, racimos con 5–25 flores, eje y pedúnculo 2–15 cm de largo en conjunto, pedicelos 8–30 mm de largo; sépalos gradualmente diferenciados, los internos 9.5–13 mm de largo; corola zigomorfa, pétalos más largos 12–15 mm de largo; anteras de los 2 estambres abaxiales más largos incurvadas, 6.5–8.5 mm de largo, abruptamente contraídas en un rostro tubular de 1.2–2 mm de largo; estilo al menos 5 mm de largo, óvulos 80–120. Fruto péndulo, cilíndrico, 8–15 cm de largo y 1.2 cm de ancho, las suturas ampliamente marginadas, las valvas papiráceas, cafés cuando maduras, estípite 2–5 mm de largo; semillas 2-seriadas, sin aréolas, embebidas en una pulpa dulzona y comestible.

Frecuente, bosques alterados, márgenes de bosques, caños y matorrales, zona pacífica; 300 m; fl sep–feb, fr ene–mar; Baker 4, Stevens 6584; sur de México a Colombia y en las Antillas Mayores, a veces cultivada. S. bicapsularis (L.) Roxb. es una especie cercanamente emparentada y a menudo confundida con S. pendula (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, pero difiere por tener los pedicelos cortos (1–5 mm de largo) y las anteras cortamente rostradas, además se distribuye en todo el Caribe y noroeste de Sudamérica y se cultiva en áreas cálidas de todo el mundo. Probablemente se encuentre sembrada en los jardines de Nicaragua. La pulpa que envuelve a las semillas de S. pendula es dulce y comestible.

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Arbusto ± escandente, 1–4 m, las ramitas glabras o diminutamente blanquecino-pilosas a glabrescentes; estípulas 0.15–0.9 cm, linear-lanceoladas. Hojas con el pecíolo 1.5–4 cm, sin nectarios glandulares; raquis 1–6 cm, con 1 nectario glandular elipsoide a globoso en el par proximal de folíolos (a veces también en el segundo par); folíolos 4 ó 5 pares, 2–4.5 X 0.85–2 cm, obovados o redondeados, obtusos o mucronatos en el ápice, pilósulos en el haz, usualmente glabros en el envés. Infls. racemoso-tirseiformes, 3–18(–33) cm, de 5–25 fls., con brácteas 1–4 mm, deciduas. Fls. anaranjadas o amarillo anaranjado (que se marchitan amarillo pálido), el pedicelo 8–30(–37) mm; sépalos internos 9.5–13 mm; pétalos más largos 12–16(–26) mm; estambres fértiles 6 ó 7. Frs. péndulos, pardos (cuando maduros), 8–15 X ca. 1.2 cm, lineares, cilíndricos con las suturas ampliamente marginadas, papiráceos; semillas biseriadas (en CR), rojizas, 4.1–6 X 3–4.3 mm, oblicuamente obovoides, lisas o diminutamente granulosas y lustrosas, inmersas en una pulpa dulzona.

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Diffuse or awkwardly assurgent shrubs m, in brush-woodland, savanna and margin of gallery forest arborescent to 7 m, in close competition sarmentose and reportedly reaching (in Pacific Ecuador) 20 m, the older trunks brown or castaneous lenticellate, the pliantly virgate, commonly ± geotropic, simple or randomly branched annotinous stems terete striate, green or anthocyanic, the whole plant varying from fully glabrous to pilosulous with incumbent or spreading straight hairs (described in greater detail under vars.) but the lfts almost always glabrous above, the foliage bicolored, dull bright green or olivaceous above, paler and sometimes glaucescent beneath, the inflorescence a ± exserted simple or branched thyrsiform panicle of racemes.Stipules caducous before maturity of associated lf, consequently little known, absent from most fl and all fr spms, submembranous pallid linear-lanceolate or -oblanceolate 1.5-9 mm.Lvs (depauperate ones in inflorescence ignored) 5-13 cm; petiole including moderately swollen, when dry wrinkled and often discolored pulvinus 1.5-4(-5) cm, at middle 0.4-1.1 mm diam, shallowly, most often openly sulcate ventrally; rachis l-6(-7) cm, its longer interfoliolar segments (5-)6-21 mm; glands always between proximal pair of lfts, sometimes also between the second pair, or between all but the distal pair, sessile or shortly stipitate, in profile 0.7-2.5(-2.8) mm, the livid or greenish body varying from oblong- or lance-ellipsoid to oblong- obovoid, ovoid, obovoid or globose and in any case either obtuse, acute or apiculate, (0.25-)0.4-1.2 mm diam; pulvinules 1-2.7 mm; lfts (2-)3-6(-7), in most populations 4-5 or exactly 4 or 5, only locally 6-7 pairs, accrescent distally, the proximal pairs shorter and proportionately broader than the distal, these from variably asymmetric base varying in outline from broadly to narrowly obovate, oblong-elliptic or broadly oblanceolate, (1.8-)2.2-5.5(-6.5) x (0.75-)0.85-2(-2.4) cm, (1.7-)1.8-3.5(-3.9) times as long as wide (in local Peruvian var. scandens ovate-elliptic), at apex broadly rounded, obtuse mucronulate-apiculate, or shallowly emarginate, the translucent pallid or orange margin plane or incipiently revolute toward the pulvinule, the midrib with (5-)6-12(-13) pairs of camptodrome (+ random intercalary) secondary veins prominulous either on both faces or beneath only, the tertiary venulation variable, sometimes faint, open and irregular, sometimes forming a sharply raised, fine and regular reticulum.Racemes (2-)4-27(-35, exceptionally -50)-fld, the peduncle (from geotropic branches appearing recurved) with raceme-axis together becoming (2-)3-18(-33) cm, the ascending buds either corymbose or racemose in praefloration; bracts membranous pallid or pallid-margined lance-subulate 1-4 mm, caducous as the pedicel begins to elongate; pedicels at and after full anthesis 8-33(-37) mm; hypanthium turbinate 1-2.2 mm; fl-buds obliquely obovoid obtuse, commonly glabrous, sometimes densely minutely puberulent; sepals almost always membranous subhyaline-margined, exceptionally (in w. Brazil) subcarnosulous and wrinkled when dry, varying from yellowish to fuscous or reddish-castaneous, moderately or well graduated, the outermost ovate or lance-elliptic 3-9.5(-10) mm, the amply obovate or elliptic-suborbicular innermost one mostly 7-15.5 (in n.-w. Argentina 5.5-6) mm; corolla zygomorphic, the subsessile glabrous petals golden- or orange-yellow fading pale yellow or stramineous dark-veined, the vexillar one broadly obovate-flabellate emarginate or deeply notched, its 2 neighbors ovate or obovate obtuse, the 2 abaxial ones ovate- or oblong-elliptic, either a trifle longer or shorter than the rest, the longest petal (11-) 12-26 mm; androecium glabrous, the yellow blade of the 3 staminodes varying from linear-oblanceolate to rhombic-orbicular, quadrate, trapeziform (broader upward), pandurate, inversely deltate, or broadly cuneiform 1.2-4.5 x 0.8-3(-3.5) mm; filaments of 4 median stamens 1.4-3(-4) mm, of the centric abaxial one 1.6-6(-7) mm, of the 2 long latero-abaxial ones dilated and (6.5-)7-20 mm, the 4 smooth or papillate, almost straight median anthers slenderly or plumply flask-shaped, including beak 3.5-7 x 0.7-2 mm, the body constricted 0.3-1.4 mm below apex and thence dilated into an obliquely truncate orifice in profile 0.7-1.5 mm wide; centric abaxial anther sterile or almost so, variably intermediate in length between the 4 median and the long abaxial ones, the body narrower than all of them, often only the beak dilated; 2 long abaxial anthers either brown yellow-tipped or uniformly yellow, lunately lanceolate from shortly sagittate base, including the beak (4.5-)5.5-11(-14) x 0.9-2.2 mm, slightly or strongly constricted 0.3-1.2 mm, in var. advena 1.1-2 mm below the symmetrically truncate apex into a broadly drum-shaped or more slender tubular beak at orifice 0.5-1.2 mm diam; dehiscence of fertile anthers by coarsely U-shaped slit; ovary glabrous, strigulose or densely pilosulous, the vesture white or less commonly lutescent; style linear-filiform or slightly dilated and up to 0.5 mm diam just below the minute stigmatic orifice, 1.5-10 mm long, either gently incurved distally or (when short) more abruptly hooked; ovules (48-)50-152.Pod obliquely geotropic or pendulous, the stipe 2-5(-6) mm (caveat: pods sterile at base may appear long-stipitate), the cylindric, sometimes gently obcompressed-cylindric, less often laterally compressed but turgid, exceptionally (cf. var. tenuifolia) moniliform body when fully fertile (7-)8-18 (in var. tenuifolia -29) x 0.9-1.5(-l.6) cm, straight, gently curved or, when (as often) semisterile or bruchid-infested, variably distorted, the smooth green or fuscous, glabrous or early glabrate, rarely thinly pilosulous valves becoming pale brown and papery, the meso- and exocarp separating only when fully ripe and dry, the broadly margined sutures never prominulous, tardily if at all dehiscent; seeds commonly 2-seriate, locally (in s.-e. Brazil and n.-e. Argentina) 1-seriate, in either case turned with broad faces to the transverse septa, plumply obliquely obovoid 4.1-6(-6.6) x (2.8-)3-4.3 x ±2 mm, embedded in copious or scanty pulp, the brown, sooty or castaneous testa either smooth lustrous or microscopically granular dull, exareolate.

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Senna pendula has more than 20 recognized varieties, and a number of them are in cultivation. The two varieties most commonly cultivated in the U.S.

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Stem: indumentum glabrous/puberulent/tomentose/pubescent/sparsely pubescent. Leaf: stipule lanceolate; petiole smaller than 5 cm; foliar rachis smaller than 5 cm; position nectary extrafloral present between all the pairs of the leaflet/present between the pairs of the leaflet basal; nectary extrafloral sessile; shape of the nectary extrafloral claviform/globose/ovate/obovate; leaflet 4 pairs/5 pairs/between 6 and 10 pairs; form of the leaflet elliptic/oblong/obovate/lanceolate; apex of the leaflet obtuse/rounded. Inflorescence: bract(s) subulate/lanceolate; type raceme. Flower: symmetry zygomorphic; form of the petal centro adaxial oblong/elliptic; stamen fertile 6/7. Fruit: pod dehiscent/late dehiscent; position pendulous; form of the fruit cylindric/subcylindrical/plane; externally smooth/depressed between seed. Seed: number of the series 1 seriate/2 seriate.

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Tallo: indumento glabro(s)/puberulento(s)/tomentoso(s)/pubescente(s)/esparsamente pubescente(s). Hoja: estípula(s) lanceolada(s); pecíolo(s) menor que 5 cm; raquis foliar menor que 5 cm; posición nectário(s) extrafloral(es) presente(s) entre todo(s) los páreas de foliolo(s)/presente(s) entre los páreas de foliolo(s) basal(es); nectário(s) extrafloral(es) sésil(es); forma de los nectário(s) extrafloral(es) claviforme(s)/globoso(s)/ovado(s)/obovado(s); foliolo(s) 4 páreas/5 páreas/entre 6 y 10 páreas; forma de los foliolo(s) elíptico(s)/oblongo(s)/obovado(s)/lanceolado(s); ápice(s) de los foliolo(s) obtuso(s)/arredondado(s). Inflorescencia: bractea(s) subulada(s)/lanceolada(s); tipo racimo(s). Flor: simetria zigomorfa(s); forma de la pétala(s) centro adaxial oblonga(s)/elíptica(s); estambre(s) fértil(es) 6/7. Fruto: legume(s) deiscente(s)/tardiamente deiscente(s); posición péndulo(s); forma de los fruto(s) cilíndrico(s)/subcilíndrico(s)/plano(s); externamente liso(s)/depreso(s) entre semilla(s). Semilla: número de serie 1 seriada(s)/2 seriada(s).

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Caule: indumento glabro(s)/puberulento(s)/tomentoso(s)/pubescente(s)/esparsamente pubescente(s). Folha: estípula(s) lanceolada(s); pecíolo(s) menor que 5 cm; raque foliar menor que 5 cm; posição nectário(s) extrafloral(ais) presente(s) entre todo(s) os pares de folíolo(s)/presente(s) entre os pares de folíolo(s) basal(ais); nectário(s) extrafloral(ais) séssil(eis); formato dos nectário(s) extrafloral(ais) claviforme(s)/globoso(s)/ovado(s)/obovado(s); folíolo(s) 4 pares/5 pares/entre 6 e 10 pares; forma dos folíolo(s) elíptico(s)/oblongo(s)/obovado(s)/lanceolado(s); ápice(s) dos folíolo(s) obtuso(s)/arredondado(s). Inflorescência: bráctea(s) subulada(s)/lanceolada(s); tipo racemo(s). Flor: simetria zigomorfa(s); forma da pétala(s) centro adaxial oblonga(s)/elíptica(s); estame(s) fértil(eis) 6/7. Fruto: legume(s) deiscente(s)/tardiamente deiscente(s); posição pêndulo(s); forma dos fruto(s) cilíndrico(s)/subcilíndrico(s)/plano(s); externamente liso(s)/depresso(s) entre semente(s). Semente: número de série 1 seriada(s)/2 seriada(s).

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Scandent or sprawling shrub to 4 m tall, the branches often arching. Leaves 6-12(-15) cm long, the petiole 1.5-3 cm long, the rachis bearing a squat, fusiform nectary between the proximal and sometimes all pairs of leaflets; leaflets 3-5 pairs, obovate to elliptic, the terminal pair 2-5 cm long x 1-2 cm wide, apex rounded to obtuse, base rounded, asymmetrical, venation often raised-reticulate. Inflorescences of axillary corymbose racemes, terminal on the branches and exserted above the foliage, peduncles stout, 4-6(-10) cm long at anthesis, pedicels 1-3 cm long, flowers 5-15 per raceme; sepals oblong to obovate, glabrous, unequal; petals obovate, 1-2 cm long, glabrous; fertile stamens 6, the lowermost abaxial stamen sterile and shorter than the 2 long abaxial stamens, anthers constricted below the apex, dehiscent by 2 confluent terminal pores, the apices of the abaxial anthers truncate, of the median anthers oblique; ovary glabrous to hirsute, stigma minutely porate. Fruits stipitate, cylindrical, inflated, linear-oblong, 5-10 cm long x 0.8-1.4 cm in diameter; valves glabrous, papery, dark brown, corrugated over the seeds, internally septate and pulpy; seeds in 2 rows, ovate, dark brown, glossy, lacking an areole.

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Widespread throughout the tropics.

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