Senna procumbens is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory in Australia. It is a herbaceous perennial or undershrub with pinnate leaves with two or three pairs of lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaflets, and groups of five to eight yellow flowers arranged in upper leaf axils.
| Senna procumbens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Senna |
| Species: | S. procumbens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Senna procumbens | |
Description edit
Senna procumbens is a prostrate or low-lying, mostly glabrous, herbaceous perennial or undershrub. Its leaves are pinnate, 50–80 mm (2.0–3.1 in) long including a petiole 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long, with five to eight pairs of lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaflets, 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide, spaced 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) apart. There are hair-like glands between each pair of leaflets. The flowers are yellow and arranged in groups of five to eight in upper leaf axils on a peduncle 30–60 mm (1.2–2.4 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) long. The petals are 11–13 mm (0.43–0.51 in) long and there are ten fertile stamens, the anthers of differing lengths between 4 and 5 mm (0.16 and 0.20 in) long. Flowering occurs from January to June, and the fruit is a flat pod 50–70 mm (2.0–2.8 in) long and about 8 mm (0.31 in) wide.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy edit
Senna procumbens was first formally described in 1989 by Barbara Rae Randell in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.[4][5] The specific epithet (procumbens) means "procumbent".[6]
Distribution and habitat edit
Senna procumbens grows among tall grasses in swamps or in forest or woodland in sandy soil. It is only known from the Pine Creek area of the Northern Territory.[3][2][4]
References edit
- ^ "Senna procumbens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Senna procumbens". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Senna procumbens". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Randell, Barbara R. (1989). "Revision of Cassiinae in Australia 2. Senna Miller sect. Psilorhegma (J.Vogel) Irwin & Barneby". Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 12 (2): 260–263. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Senna procumbens". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 283. ISBN 9780958034180.