Kingdom Plantae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Subtribe Cassiinae Scientific name Senna hebecarpa Rank Species | Family Fabaceae Tribe Cassieae Genus Senna Higher classification Senna Order Fabales | |
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Similar Senna, Legumes, Senna marilandica, Senna multiglandulosa, Senna covesii | ||
Senna hebecarpa, with the common names American senna and wild senna, is a species of legume native to eastern North America.
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Distribution
The plant is found from the Great Lakes region and Maine southwards through the Eastern United States, in the Appalachian Mountains and Atlantic Plains, to Georgia.
It is found in moist open woodlands, and in disturbed areas.
Description
Senna hebecarpa grows as a sparsely branched perennial shrub. It has axils of compound leaves.
Clusters of light yellow to orange flowers bloom through July and August in North America.
Uses
The Native American Cherokee and Iroquois peoples used this as a traditional medicinal plant.
Senna hebecarpa is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use as a perennial wildflower and flowering shrub in traditional and wildlife gardens, in natural landscaping projects, and for habitat restoration projects.
It is a larval host and nectar source for the Cloudless Giant Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) butterfly. It is also of special value to native bumble bees
