Common Name:

General Information

Senna multijuga is an evergreen to deciduous tree with a dense, rounded crown growing 6 - 10 metres tall in Brazil, though there are reports of trees 25 metres or more tall in some areas of its range. The bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It can be grown as a pioneer for restoring woodland and, being very ornamental when in bloom, it is grown in parks and gardens and also used as a street tree, being useful for planting along narrow roads and under power lines[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Found in a wide range of habitats, soils and elevations, from savannah to the more open areas of the rain forest, and only occasionally found in the dense forest[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils so long as they are well-drained[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
The tree is reported to be invasive in Hawaii[].
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 (part not specified) is astringent and tonic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing, sun-tolerant tree, it makes a good pioneer species for restoring native woodlands and planting woodland gardens[, ].

Other Uses

The wood is light in weight, soft, and of low durability outdoors. It is only used for low value items such as toys and boxes[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A high germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 10 - 30 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later[].
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order 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[].

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