Senna marilandica
Wild Senna
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Senna genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Senna
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 1.5 m
- Spread
- 0.8 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves and seedpods are cathartic, diuretic and vermifuge[1][2][6][13]. The leaves are harvested before and during flowering, the pods are harvested when fully ripe in the autumn. Both are dried for later use[9]. The leaves are a safe and effective cathartic[5][7]. They are best used with Foeniculum vulgare seeds in order to counteract a tendency to cause gripe[5][7]. The seedpods can also be used and are milder but slower in their action[8]. The seeds have been soaked in water until they are mucilaginous and then swallowed as a treatment for sore throats[7][10]. The root is cardiac and febrifuge[10]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of fevers and heart problems[10]. A poultice of the root has been used in treating sores[10].
- Product or use
- Cardiac
- Product or use
- Cathartic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- South-eastern N. America - Pennsylvania to Florida, Kansas and Iowa.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
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][2][4]. Established plants are drought tolerant[4]. Succeeds in light shade, but the plant is much less vigorous when grown in dry shade[4]. Although fairly cold-tolerant, plants can be killed in very severe weather, so it is best to mulch the roots of mature plants in bad winters[2]. Younger plants should be mulched each winter until they are well established[4]. Slugs are very attracted to this plant[K]. 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
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
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
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00