Chamaecrista fasciculata
Golden Cassia
an annual member of the Chamaecrista genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Chamaecrista
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 1 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant is considered toxic for grazing animals[5].
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants have an extensive root system and are used to stabilize soils.
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- Eastern, Central and South-eastern N. America.
- Habitat
- Open woods and prairies, disturbed areas, often on sandy soils[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - scarify and then pre-soak the seed for 2 - 3 hours in warm water before sowing it from early spring to early summer in a warm greenhouse[3]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 12 weeks at 23°c[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse. Do not plant them out until the following spring[3]. Division as growth commences in spring[2]. Cuttings of moderately ripe wood, July in a frame[1].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most well-drained soils but prefers an open sandy loam in a sunny sheltered position[1][4]. Established plants are drought tolerant[4]. Succeeds in light shade, but the plant is much less vigorous when grown in dry shade[4]. Young plants should be mulched each winter until they are well established[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm