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Cassia alata

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Medicinal Plants of the World

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Abstract

This shrub of the LEGUMINOSAE family may grow up to about 3 meters tall Leaves are pinnately compound, 30 to 40 cm long, with 6–12 pairs of broad oblong leaflets, blunt at the tip, unequal at the base, the terminai pair much larger, about 15 cm long and 8 cm wide. Flowers are roundish in compact axillary racemes, golden-yellow and very showy, about 20 to 30 cm long and 3–4 cm wide. The bracts are 2–3 by 1–2 cm. There are 5 unequal, oblong, 10–20 by 6–7 mm green sepals. The petals are bright yellow, ovate-orbicular to spathulate, short-clawed, 2 by 1–1.5 cm. There are 9–10 stamens; 2 large, 4 small, and 3–4 reduced. The anthers open via apical pores. There is only 1 pistil and glabrous ovary. Fruit are 4-winged pods, 10–15 cm long, dark brown when ripe.

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Ross, I.A. (2003). Cassia alata. In: Medicinal Plants of the World. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-365-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-365-1_7

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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