Senna siamea (Cassia Tree, Iron Wood Tree, Kassod Tree, Siamese Cassia, Siamese Senna)
Botanical Information
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Genus | Senna |
| Species | siamea |
| Synonyms | Cassia arayatensis, Cassia arborea, Cassia florida, Cassia gigantea, Cassia siamea, Cassia sumatrana, Cassia sumatrana, Chamaefistula gigantea, Sciacassia siamea, Sciacassia siamea |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Tree (deciduous) |
| References | Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2019-06-06. |
| Origin | Southeast Asia including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | The plant that is particularly useful for its high quality firewood. It is widely cultivated in the tropics both for this and for its many uses in agroforestry systems. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | Above 4.5 |
| Temperature (°F) | 40 |
| Height | 9-12 m |
| Spread | 6-9 m |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | April, May, June, July |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A medium-size, tree with a crown that is usually dense and rounded when young, later becoming irregular and spreading with drooping branches. |
| ID Characteristic | This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. |
| Shape | Irregular and spreading with drooping branches. |
| Landscape | It is used as an ornamental and planted along the sides of roads, shade tree, and windbreak. |
| Propagation | By woody stem cuttings, and seed. |
| Cultivation | Grow in rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. |
| Notable Specimens | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Habitat | Various types of forests at low elevations, and in secondary forest formations on the plains. |
| Bark/Stem Description | An erect and slender stem up to 30 cm in diameter. |
| Leaf Description | Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with slender, green-reddish, tinged axis and 6 to 12 pairs of leaflets on short stalks, rounded at both ends. |
| Flower Description | Bright yellow flowers. |
Photographs
Senna siamea, form, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Senna siamea, leaf, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Senna siamea, bark, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.