Common Name:

General Information

Senna macranthera is a deciduous or semideciduous tree with a dense, roundish crown; it can grow 6 - 8 metres tall. The short, almost cylindrical bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. A useful pioneer species, it is an ornamental plant when in bloom that can be used in landscaping and is suitable for planting under power lines along streets[].
This taxon is not known to be specifically threatened or in decline at present, there are, however, general threats to the species habitat such as logging and agriculture but these are not currently considered to be leading to a significant decline in the species population or area of occupancy. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela.

Habitat

Highland semideciduous forests, usually in more open, secondary formations and only occasionally in the dense primary forest; also in savannah[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	7.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Ins
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[].
A fast-growing tree, easily reaching a height of 3.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].
There are conflicting reports on whether or not this tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, so it is unclear as to whether this tree fixes atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is reputedly used in the treatment of syphilis[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing, pioneer species, it can be used in planting schemes for establishing woodland[].

Other Uses

The wood is light in weight, soft and of poor durability when exposed to the elements. It is only used for low quality, indoor items such as boxes and cheap toys[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A moderate germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 30 days[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].

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