Senna (genus)

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iSenna

Senna sp. inflorescence in Costa Rica

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Genus:	Senna Mill.

Selected species

See text

Senna is a large genus of about 250–260 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. This diverse genus is native throughout the tropics, with a small number of species reaching into temperate regions. See this other article for its herbal uses.

Typically Senna species have yellow flowers. Some species of Senna are notable for being host to particular butterfly species — for instance Cloudless Sulphur butterflies.

1 Selected species
2 Uses
- 2.1 Medicinal use
- 2.2 Culinary use
3 External links

[edit] Selected species

Senna aculeata
Senna alata
Senna alexandrina
Senna angulata
Senna armata
Senna artemisioides
Senna auriculata
Senna australis
Senna bicapsularis
Senna birostris
Senna candolleana
Senna corymbosa
Senna covesii, (Desert senna, Rattleweed)
Senna cumingii
Senna didymobotrya
Senna fruticosa
Senna hebecarpa
Senna helmsii
Senna hirsuta
Senna italica
Senna ligustrina
Senna lindheimeriana
Senna macranthera
Senna marilandica
Senna multiglandulosa
Senna multijuga
Senna nicaraguensis
Senna nitida
Senna obtusifolia
Senna occidentalis
Senna odorata
Senna oligophylla
Senna pallida
Senna purpusii
Senna siamea (syn. Cassia siamea; Siamese cassia; Siamese senna)

[edit] Uses

[edit] Medicinal use

Because of the presence of anthraquinones, senna species are used as the primary ingredient in certain commercial stimulant laxatives. It is also the primary ingredient found in most "dieter's tea."

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Category:Senna

[edit] Culinary use

In some Southeast Asian cuisines (particularly those of Thailand and Laos), the leaves and flowers of Siamese Cassia (Senna siamea, called khi-lek in Thai), either fresh or pickled in brine, are used in cooking, particularly in gaeng khi-lek (khi-lek curry).[1][2]