Senna bicapsularis (L.) Roxb.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Senna bicapsularis (L.) Roxb.

  • Description

    Description - Clambering shrub, with many lateral branches, attaining 3 m in length. Stems slender, cylindrical, smooth, grayish or brown, with some lenticels. Leaves alternate, bipinnate, 3-8 cm long; leaflets 2-5 pairs, 1.5-4 x 1-2.5 cm, obovate to oblanceolate, sub-fleshy, glabrous, the apex truncate, emarginate and usually mucronate, the base asymmetrical, cuneate or subcordiform, the margins entire or slightly undulate; upper surface dark green, dull, sometimes glaucous; lower surface pale green, dull, with the midvein slightly prominent, glaucous; petiolules ca. 2 mm long; rachis sulcate, slender, with a stipitate. ellipsoid gland between the basal pair of leaflets; petioles short, glabrous or puberulent, with the base swollen; stipules minute, lanceolate, early deciduous. Inflorescences of axillary racemes, few-flowered; pedicels 1-3.5 cm long, articulate; bracts lanceolate, deciduous. Calyx forming a turbinate hypanthium. 1 .5-3.4 mm long, the sepals 5, oblong-elliptical, yellow, 5-8 mm long,

    Phenology - Flowering and fruiting from November to May.

    Conservation Status - Native, rather common.