Italian Senna

Senna italica

Herboutdoor

About Italian Senna

Senna italica, the Port Royal senna, Italian senna, or Senegal senna is a legume tree in the genus Senna. It is recognized by many other common names based on the regions it grows in. In India, it is used to produce a powder for treating hair-related diseases which is known as “neutral henna”. Whereas, in some parts of the world, this species (along with Cassia senna) is cultivated for the leaves which yield the drug senna, known commonly as Senna glycoside, which in turn is the base for a laxative. Senegal senna is easily distinguishable through its many distinctive features. There are 3 subspecies of this plant based on the size of the inflorescence and the length of the petiole. The subspecies are italica, micrantha, and arachoides.

Description adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Plant Details

Scientific name: Senna italica
Genus: Senna
Family: CAESALPINIACEAE
Habit: Herb
Habitat: Bare grounds or fallow fields
Distribution: Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Arabia, Egypt
Flowering & fruiting: April-December
Conservation status: Not Evaluated (NE)

Local Names

Hindi: Bhinda anwal, Goranwal, Medi anwal
Tamil: Kattunilavirai, Nattu-nila-virai, Nattunila virai
Telugu: Nelaponna, Nelathangedu, Sunamukhi
Kannada: ಅಡವಿತಂಗಡಿ Adavi tangadi, ಕಾಡುಸೋನಾಮುಖಿ Kadu sonamukhi, ನೆಲದಾವರಿಕೆ Neladaavarike
Malayalam: Cheruvanni, Nila-vaka, Seruvanni
Marathi: Bhonyataravad, Bhui-tarwad, Mendial

Botanical family

Caesalpiniaceae

Senna family

Italian Senna belongs to the Caesalpiniaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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