Senna bicapsularis (L.) Roxb.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
By the lodges, Lake Kyle Recreational Park

Photo: Mark Hyde
New Years Gift Estate, Chipinge district

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Synonyms:	Cassia bicapsularis L.
Common names:
Description:	Rounded shrub up to 5 m tall. Leaves pinnate with 2-3(4) pairs of broadly obovate-elliptic leaflets, rounded or notched at the apex, hairless; a single ellipsoid gland, c. 1 mm long, present on the rhachis between the lowest pairs of leaflets. Flowers yellow, in axillary racemes. Pods cylindrical, straight, up to 5-15 cm long.
Notes:	This species has often been confused with S. pendula. That species has leaves with 4-5 pairs of leaflets and a gland between each pair of leaflets. It is also similar to S. obtusifolia but that is a much smaller and weaker shrub, usually shorter than 1.5 m. It has a stalked, finger-like gland between the lowest pair of leaflets and longer petioles.
Derivation of specific name:	bicapsularis: with two capsules, referring to the pods.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native to South America and the West Indies.
Growth form(s):	Shrub over 2 m.
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated:	Saturday 31 March 2012
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 86. (Includes a picture). Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Page 156. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 268. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 51. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 341. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 212. as Cassia bicapsularis Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 243. As Cassia bicapsularis Henderson, L. (2001). Alien weeds and invasive plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. Page 79. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 44. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 191 - 192. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Senna bicapsularis:

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Flora of Burundi: Senna bicapsularis
Flora of Malawi: Senna bicapsularis
Flora of Mozambique: Senna bicapsularis
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Senna bicapsularis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Senna bicapsularis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Senna bicapsularis
African Plant Database: Senna bicapsularis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Senna bicapsularis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Senna bicapsularis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Senna bicapsularis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Senna bicapsularis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Senna bicapsularis
JSTOR Plant Science: Senna bicapsularis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Senna bicapsularis
Plants of the World Online: Senna bicapsularis
Tropicos: Senna bicapsularis
Wikipedia: Senna bicapsularis