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Summary
Also known as Siamese cassia, kassod tree, cassod tree, and Cassia tree. Senna siamea or most commonly known as Siamese Senna is native to South and Southeast Asia that grows up to 18 m in height with an erect and slender stem. It is commonly used as shade tree in plantations, as windbreak, or as hedgerows. The leaves are dark green, alternate, and pinnately compound. The yellow flowers occur at the end of branches. The fruits are black pods with thickened edges. The plant contains Barakol, a compound with sedative and anxiolytic effects, which contributes to its medicinal values. It is used against intestinal worms and scabies. Plant parts such as leaves, pods, and seeds are all edible but has to be thoroughly boiled first prior to eating. Flowers and young fruits are used in curries. The leaves are used as green manure. All plant parts can be used for tanning. The wood is used for joinery, cabinet making, inlaying, handles, sticks, and other decorative uses. In addition, it can be made into charcoal of excellent quality.
Physical Characteristics
Senna_siamea is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Cassia arayatensis Naves Cassia arborea Macfad. Cassia florida Vahl Cassia gigantea DC. Cassia siame
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
The young fruits and leaves are eaten as a vegetable. During preparation the cooking liquid is replaced 3 times to remove toxins[303 ]. The flowers and young fruits are used in curries[303 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
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In traditional medicine, the fruit is used to charm away intestinal worms and to prevent convulsions in children[303 ]. The heartwood is said to be a laxative, and a decoction is used against scabies[303 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry Uses: The tree is grown to provide shade along roads and in cocoa, coffee and tea plantations. It is also planted as a dense windbreak and shelterbelt[303 , 451 ]. It is pruned into hedgerows and used as a live fence around food crops[303 ]. When used as a hedgerow, it effectively increases topsoil infiltration, reducing runoff and combating soil erosion[303 ]. The leaves are used as green manure, and a well-grown tree can yield 500 kg/year of fresh leaves. S. Siamea forms ecto-mycorrhizae and provides very useful mulch, especially in alley-cropping systems[303 ]. It is used extensively for rehabilitation of degraded land, for example, to re-vegetate aluminium mine tailings[303 ]. Although not a nitrogen-fixing tree, it has been increasingly used in alley cropping systems, largely because of its coppicing ability and high biomass production[303 ]. In India, it is used as a host for sandalwood (Santalum spp.), a parasitic tree producing the well-known aromatic wood[303 ]. Other Uses All parts of the plant can be used for tanning. The concentrations of tannin vary slightly from 17% in the leaves to 9% in the bark and 7% in the fruits[303 ]. The heartwood is black-brown with paler streaks, sharply demarcated from the 6cm wide band of pale sapwood[303 ]. The grain is interlocked and occasionally straight; the texture is slightly coarse but even[303 ]. The wood is medium-weight to heavy, hard to very hard, resistant to termites, strong and durable[303 ]. It is difficult to work, with a tendency to pick up in planing and it takes a high polish[303 ]. The dark heartwood, which is often nicely figured, is used for joinery, cabinet making, inlaying, handles, sticks and other decorative uses[303 ]. The wood has also been used for poles, posts, bridges, mine poles and beams[303 ]. The dense wood makes good fuel, although it produces some smoke when burning[303 ]. The energy value of the wood is 22 400 kJ/kg[303 ]. The wood was formerly preferred for locomotive engines[303 ]. Its charcoal is also of excellent quality[303 ].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
The tree will grow in a range of climatic conditions, but is particularly suited to the lowland tropics with a monsoon climate, where it can succeed at elevations up to 1,300 metres[303 ]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall ranges from 500 - 2,800 mm with an optimum of about 1,000 mm[303 ]. The maximum length of the dry period should not exceed 4 - 8 months[303 ]. Under semi-arid conditions (rainfall of 500 - 700 mm), it will only grow when its roots have access to groundwater[303 ]. It requires a mean minimum temperature of 20°c, ranging from 14 - 28°c, and a mean maximum temperature of 31°c, ranging from 24 - 36°c[303 ]. It is susceptible to cold and frost[303 ]. Requires a sunny position[303 ]. It grows best on deep, well-drained, fertile soils, but will succeed on degraded, lateritic soils provided drainage is not impeded[303 ]. It grows poorly on infertile, poorly drained podzolic soils[303 ]. It is not tolerant of salinity but is reasonably tolerant of acid soil conditions[303 ]. It prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5[303 ]. Trees grow fast even in comparatively infertile soils[303 ]. Seedling trees start flowering and fruiting at the age of 2 - 3 years[303 ]. Once established, they flower precociously and abundantly throughout the year[303 ]. Planting density varies according to use. In fuel wood plantations, spacing ranges from 1 x 1 metre to 1x 3 metres. In hedges used for alley cropping or as a shelterbelt, spacing between plants in the row should be 25 - 50 cm[303 ]. Trees respond well to coppicing[303 ]. For the production of fuel wood and charcoal, plantations are generally pollarded or regenerated by coppice leaving 2-3 shoots/stump after 1 year. It has been reported that sapwood should be removed as soon as possible after felling to prevent insect attack of the heartwood[303 ]. The root system consists of a few thick roots, growing to considerable depth, and a dense mat of rootlets in the top 10 - 20 cm of soil, which may reach a distance of 7 metres from the stem in 1 year and eventually a distance up to 15 metres[303 ]. Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[755 ]. Flowering Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer. Bloom Color: Pale Yellow Bright Yellow. Spacing: 20-30 ft. (6-9 m).
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - requires pre-treatment to soften the hard seedcoat and allow the ingress of water[299 ]. This can be done by soaking the seed in a small amount of nearly boiling water (which cools down quickly and does not cook the seed) and then soaking the seed for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. Alternatively, a small area of the seed coat can be abraded, being careful not to damage the embryo[K ]. Germination of treated seed is about 90% within 60 days. Germination of untreated seeds is about 75% in 4 - 29 days[303 ]. The seed is usually sown in situ[303 ]. Seeds should be sown in areas with full sunlight, as the slightest shade reduces germination considerably[303 ]. Early seedling growth can be quite slow, reaching only 29 cm after 8 weeks of planting[303 ]. Storage behaviour is orthodox. Viability can be maintained for 3 years in hermetic storage at room temperature with 11-15% mc. There are 35 000-45 000 seeds/kg[303 ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Ai-coxote, Boordi, Jaha, Jahor, Jeragor, Kasod tree, Kassod, Khee lek, Ki lak yai, Lin pakk kee lek, Maixili, Manje-konne, Phak khee lek, Sebusok, Sia sunaru, Sima tangedu, Thailand shower, akassia, casse du siam, bois pedrix, ironwood, kassod tree, kassod, minjri, muong, siamese cassia, siamese tree senna, wa / aramana, yellow cassia, bombay blackwood.
Native Range
TROPICAL ASIA: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (probably native), Thailand (probably native), Vietnam, Malaysia (Malaya (perhaps native)),
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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