Volume 4 > Part 1 > Year 1984 > Page 108 > Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae > Cassia

6. Cassia alata L.wfo-0000214719

L., Sp. Pl.: 378. 1753; Baker in Hook.f., Fl. Br. Ind. 2: 264. 1878; Gagnep. in Fl. Gén. I.-C. 2: 165. 1913; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 619. 1922; Craib in Fl. Siam. En. 1 : 508. 1928; de Wit, Webbia 11: 231. 1955; K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen in Fl. C.L.V. 18: 86. 1980.— Herpetica alata (L.) Raf, Sylv. Tell.: 123. 1838. Fig. 27: 1–2.

Accepted Name : Senna alata (L.) Roxb.
Fl. Ind. Ed. 2. 2: 349. 1832.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Shrub 1–2(–5) m high with pubescent, horizontally spread branches. Leaves with 8–20 pairs of leaflets. Petioles robust ca 2 cm; rhachis 30–60 cm. Stipules auriculate, persistent, deltoid, 6–8 mm long. Leaflets oblong-elliptic, rounded at both ends, 5–15 by 3–7 cm, glabrous; petiolules robust, 2–3 mm. Racemes axillary, dense, robust, 20–50 cm long, 3–4 cm broad. Bracts caducous, 2–3 by 1–2 cm. Pedicels very short ca 2–4 mm. Sepals unequal, oblong, 10–20 by 6–7. mm. Petals bright yellow, ovate-orbicular to spathulate, short-clawed, 2 by 1.0–1.5 cm. Stamens 9–10; 2 largest with thick filaments, 4 mm long and anthers 12–13 mm long opening by apical pores; 4 with filaments 2 mm long and anthers 4–5 mm opening by apical pores; 3–4 stamens reduced. Ovary and style glabrous; stigma small. Pods thick, flattened, winged, glabrous, septate, 10–15 by 1.5–2 cm; wings 5 mm. Seeds ca 50, flattened, ± quadrangular, 7–10 by 5–8 mm.

Thailand : Found all over the country, sometimes cultivated for medical purposes.

Distribution : Pantropical, indigenous to S America (type).

Ecology : On waste places, often along ditches between the rice-fields, up to 1,500 m alt.

Vernacular : Khi khak (ขี้คาก), mak kaling thet (หมากกะลิงเทศ), lap muen luang (ลับมึงหลวง), chum het thet (ชุมเห็ดเทศ)(Central, Peninsular); ta-si-pho (ตะสีพอ)(Karen-Nortthern).

CommonName : Ring-worm bush, Candelabra bush.

Uses: Decoction of leaves used against ring-worm and other skin diseases.