Common Name: Senna
Botanical Name: Senna artemisioides ssp.
Family: LEGUMINOSAE
Description:
Bushy shrub, 1-2 m high, with numerous closely related subspecies differing by leaf shape and size. Varies with subspecies: in pairs of 1-2 (ssp. artemisioides, ssp. filifolia, ssp. petiolaris) to 2-8 (ssp. coriacea), some with flattened leaf stalks (ssp. artemisioides, ssp. petiolaris). Flat, broad (3-5 mm) leaves 1-2cm (ssp. coriacea) to 2-4 cm long (ssp. zygophylla) or narrow (1mm) +/-cylindrical leaves 1.5-2 cm (ssp. artemisioides, ssp. petiolaris - longer) to 8cm long (ssp. filifolia). Showy, golden-yellow, buttercup-like flowers, in racemes of 3-10. Late winter to spring (August to November). Brown, flat pods, 4-8 cm long by 0.5-1 cm wide. Summer to autumn.
Bushy shrub, 1-2 m high, with numerous closely related subspecies differing by leaf shape and size. Varies with subspecies: in pairs of 1-2 (ssp. artemisioides, ssp. filifolia, ssp. petiolaris) to 2-8 (ssp. coriacea), some with flattened leaf stalks (ssp. artemisioides, ssp. petiolaris). Flat, broad (3-5 mm) leaves 1-2cm (ssp. coriacea) to 2-4 cm long (ssp. zygophylla) or narrow (1mm) +/-cylindrical leaves 1.5-2 cm (ssp. artemisioides, ssp. petiolaris - longer) to 8cm long (ssp. filifolia). Showy, golden-yellow, buttercup-like flowers, in racemes of 3-10. Late winter to spring (August to November). Brown, flat pods, 4-8 cm long by 0.5-1 cm wide. Summer to autumn.
Natural Distribution:
Distributed throughout lower rainfall regions in most mainland agricultural districts of SA (absent from South-East). Extends into most other States and Territories. Common to mallee and northern arid areas.
Distributed throughout lower rainfall regions in most mainland agricultural districts of SA (absent from South-East). Extends into most other States and Territories. Common to mallee and northern arid areas.
Notes:
Seeds consumed by a variety of bird species including mallee fowl, emus and parrots.
Seeds consumed by a variety of bird species including mallee fowl, emus and parrots.
