Desert Cassia

Scientific name: Senna polyphylla var. polyphylla

POWO Status: Shrub or Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 58.68″ N, 64° 49′ 43.67″ W

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Observations:

Phenological Markers – Senna polyphylla var. polyphylla

Common Name: Desert Senna, Privet Senna, Manyleaf Senna
Scientific Name: Senna polyphylla var. polyphylla
Family: Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae subfamily)

Leaf Phenology

  • Leaf Type: Even-pinnate compound leaves with many small leaflets (hence “polyphylla” = “many-leaved”); alternate, light green, finely textured
  • Evergreen/Semi-deciduous: Semi-evergreen; retains leaves in moist conditions but may shed during extended dry periods
  • Leaf Flush: New foliage emerges after rains or following flowering; young leaves may be lighter or reddish in tone
  • Senescence: Older leaves drop gradually during drought or seasonal shifts; mild yellowing often precedes leaf fall

Flowering

  • Inflorescence: Clusters of bright yellow, five-petaled flowers at branch tips or leaf axils
  • Blooming Period: Primarily late dry to early rainy season, but can flower intermittently year-round depending on rainfall and pruning
  • Pollinators: Bees and butterflies
  • Phenological Indicator: Presence of bright yellow flowers, often covering the shrub in showy masses during peak bloom

Fruiting

  • Fruit Type: Slender, flattened legume (pod), green turning brown when mature, typically curved or twisted
  • Fruit Development: Occurs shortly after flowering; pods ripen over several weeks
  • Dispersal: Gravity and mechanical dehiscence; may also be dispersed by wind
  • Phenological Indicator: Green or brown seed pods visible among or following flowering clusters

Suggested Photo Angles

  • Full shrub or small tree habit
  • Close-up of compound leaf structure showing numerous leaflets
  • Flower clusters with open yellow blooms
  • Developing and mature seed pods
  • Leaf flush or seasonal yellowing

Notes for Monitoring

Useful for tracking rainfall response and seasonal transitions in xeric or semi-arid environments

Senna polyphylla var. polyphylla is native to the Caribbean and parts of Central America, often thriving in dry coastal forests and scrublands

Highly drought-tolerant and often used ornamentally for its profuse yellow flowers

Best phenological markers include flowering flush after dry periods, leaf re-growth after flowering, and the appearance of twisting seed pods

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