Photo Courtesy: Marty Strenges

Privet Cassia / Privet Wild Sensitive Plant

Senna ligustrina (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby

SEN-na    li-GOOSE-tre-na

Caesalpiniaceae (Legumes)

Key to Senna Mill.

Synonyms: Cassia bahamensis Mill., Cassia ligustrina L.   

(WU2, GRIN)

Explanation of name: Senna is a Greek work adapted from the Arabic word sana which means tender tree or shrub.(AUS,PBCC)   The Latin word ligustrinus means privet-like (AUS, STE).

Natural range: Florida and West Indies (ISE, IRC)

Recognition: Shrub.  Leaves even-pinnate with 6-8 pairs of lanceolate leaflets, to 1"-2" long.  Flowers yellow, in axillary clusters of 5 to10, or more. Fruit flat brown legume, 4"-5" long (ISE, IRC)

Landscape uses: Specimen shrub, border shrub (IRC, PBCC)