Volume 4 > Part 1 > Year 1984 > Page 113 > Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae > Cassia

12. Cassia occidentalis L.wfo-0000164441

Sp. Pl.: 377. 1753; Roxb., Fl. Ind. ed. 2. 2: 343. 1832; Baker in Hook.f., Fl. Br. Ind. 2: 262. 1878; Gagnep. in Fl. Gén. I.-C. 2: 169. 1913; Ridl., Fl. Mal, Pen. 1: 618. 1922; Craib in Fl. Siam. En. 1: 512. 1928; de Wit, Webbia 11: 256. 1955; K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen in Fl. C.L.V. 18: 93. 1980.— Ditramexa occidentalis (L.) Britt. & Wils., Sci. Surv. Porto Rico 5: 372. 1924; N. Am. Fl. 23: 256. 1930. Fig. 28: 2–4.

Accepted Name : Senna occidentalis (L.) Link
Handbuch 2: 140. 1831.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Herb or undershrub up to 150(–250) cm, ± glabrous. Leaves with (3–)4(–5) pairs of leaflets. Petioles 3–4 cm long with a relatively large, ovoid gland just above the petiole joint; rhachis 8–12 cm. Stipules linear-acute, ± falcate, 1–2 cmlong. Leaflets membranous, ovate-oblong, ± unequal-sided, 4–10 by 2–3 cm, apex acuminate, base rounded; petiolues 2 mm. Racemes short-peduncled, 2–4-flowered, mainly terminal. Bracts linear-acute, caducous. Pedicels 5–10 mm. Sepals unequal, outer ones orbicular, 6 mm diam., inner ovate, larger. Petals yellow with violet veins, 2 outer slightly larger, 1–2 by 1.5 cm, short-clawcd. Stamens 9–10, 2 long with filaments 5–6 mm long, anthers 5–7 mm long, opening by apical pores; 4 with filaments 2–3 mm long and anthers 5–6 mm long, opening the same way; reduced stamens 3–4 with filaments 1–2 mm long and minute anthers. Ovary tomentose; style glabrous; stigma lateral, small. Pods flattened, glabrous, brown with pale margins, 10–12 by 1 cm. Seeds 30–40, flat, orbicular, 3–4 mm diam.

Thailand : Common weed all over the country.

Distribution : Pantropical weed of S American origin (type from Jamaica).

Ecology : In waste places mainly, from sea level up to 1,000 m alt. Flowers throughout the year.

Vernacular : Khi lek thet (ขึ้เหล็กเทศ), khi lek phuak (ขี้เหล็กเผือก), lap muen noi (ลับมืนน้อย), mak kaling thct (หมากกะลิงเทศ), phak het (ผักเห็ด)(Northern); khi lek phi (ขี้เหล็กผี), chumhet lek (ชุมเห็ดเล็ก), phrom dan (พรมดาน)(Central); khang khet (คางเค็ด)(Northeastern); chumhet thet (ชุมเห็ดเทศ)(Peninsular); phak chit (ผักจี๊ด)(Shan-Northern).

Uses: Infusion of seeds used to substitute tea.