Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby, Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk (based on second screen), score: 5 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Cassia siamea Lam.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: tie dao mu

English: cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese senna, Thai cassia, Thailand shower

French: bois perdrix

Spanish: flamboyán amarillo

Tongan: kasia

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree, to 30 m tall, spreading, pubescent on the leaf undersides and inflorescence, soon glabrescent.  Leaves (10-) 15-20 (-35) cm long including a terete petiole 25-40 mm long; stipules minute, subulate, persistent; leaflets in (4-) 6-8 (-16) pairs spaced 15-30 mm apart, stipules minute, subulate, persistent; leaflets in (4-) 6-8 (-16) pairs spaced 15-30 mm apart, oblong, 30-50 (-75) mm long, (12-) 20-30 mm wide, increasing medially or distally, emarginate and mucronulate; glands absent, replaced by transverse bars between the leaflets.  Inflorescences of 10-20 (-60) flowers, in upper axils, forming a many-flowered panicle to 40 cm long; peduncles 15-25 mm long; pedicels 15-20 (-35) mm long; bracts subpersistent.  Petals (10-) 15-25 mm long.  Fertile stamens 7 or 10 (with 3 large staminodes); filaments unequal, the lateral abaxial ones 7-12 mm long, the others 2.5-5.5 mm long; anthers subequal, weakly beaked, 5-8 mm long, opening by one U-shaped pore.  Pod flat, 15-25 (-30) cm long, 10-15 mm wide, straight but laterally curved, entire.  Seeds lustrous, with a narrowly spathulate areole"  (Randell and Barlow, 1998; pp. 127-128).

Habitat/ecology:  "Prefers fertile, moist soils.  In northern Queensland, it has invaded forests near towns and is spreading along river banks on the lower Cape York Peninsula, particularly on the Laura River on the lower Cape York Peninsula" (Smith, 2002; p. 23).

Propagation:  Scarified seed (Bodkin, 1986, cited in Csurhes & Edwards, 1998). "Seed pods spread by water. Plants spread intentionally for shelter and ornamentation." (Smith, 2002; p. 23).

Native range:  Southeast Asia, cultivated and naturalized throughout the tropics (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 83) Voucher: Flynn 7095 (PTBG, BISH, US)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 391) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 97)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 109) Vouchers cited: DF 309, Damanu 32, Tothill 140, DA 16408, DA 12060, DA 12358 Sometimes established on roadsides and in parks.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1961) (voucher ID: BISH 32829) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 32830) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: L. Dunn 366 (PAP) Cultivated tree growing along the roadside.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 40922) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 162) Voucher cited: Florence 2519, BRY 25971
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (p. 23)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2519 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491496) Taxon name on voucher: Cassia siamea
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1994) (voucher ID: BISH 639447) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6197 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 554189) Taxon name on voucher: Cassia siamea
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawaiian Islands	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. (2000) (p. 22)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lau, Alex/Frohlich, Danielle (2012) (p. 16) Voucher cited: OED 2009090403 (BISH)
Japan (offshore islands) Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Vouchers cited: Metzger 42, Baumann 9943, Benoit in MacKee 36601
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 12)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 14, 86) Single tree.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1967) (voucher ID: BISH 428580) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 652580) Taxon name on voucher: Cassia siamea
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 652581) Taxon name on voucher: Cassia siamea
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1970) (voucher ID: BNM 436) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea Lam.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1950) (voucher ID: PTBG 22457) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea
Palau Palau (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1967) (voucher ID: BNM 439) Taxon name on voucher: Senna siamea Lam.
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	cultivated	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 221) Ornamental and shade tree.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 264) A commonly cultivated shade tree in the larger towns.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 56)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Sand Island	introduced cultivated	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd (2008) (pp. B-13)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 98)
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive cultivated	Australian Biological Resources Study (2011)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 98)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Australian Biological Resources Study (2011)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Cultivated in S. China".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 136) As Cassia siamea Lam.
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	uncertain if native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 79) Cultivated only
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)

Comments:  Invasive on the Cape York Peninsula, Australia (Csurhes, S. and R. Edwards, 1998; p. 98). Weedy on Tahiti (Welsh, 1998; p. 162).

Additional information:
Fact sheet from Winrock International.
Fact sheet from "Common forest trees of Hawaii" (PDF format).
Information from the World Agroforestry Centre's AgroForestryTree Database.
Information from the USDA Tropical Tree Seed Manual (PDF format).

Additional online information about Senna siamea is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Senna siamea as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Senna siamea may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Australian Biological Resources Study. 2011. Flora of Australia Online. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1967. Voucher specimen #BNM439(Emmons, B. 40).

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1970. Voucher specimen #BNM436(Salsedo, Carl A. 427).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 652580 (Fosberg, F.R. 32344).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 652581 (Fosberg, F.R. 32377).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1961. Voucher specimen #BISH 32829 (Pillay, S. 12358).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1967. Voucher specimen #BISH 428580 (Emmons, B. 40).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 32830 (Vodonaivalu, S. 16408).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 491496 (Florence, J. 2519).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 554189 (Florence, J. 6197).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1994. Voucher specimen #BISH 639447 (Welsh, S.L. 25971).

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. 2009. A checklist of the total vascular plant flora of Singapore: native, naturalised and cultivated species. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. 273 pp.

Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: Candidate species for preventative control. Canberra, Australia. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. 208 pp.

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. 2010. Checklist of the vascular plants of Pohnpei with local names and uses. Allertonia, in press. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 146 pp.

ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre. 2011. International Legume Database & Information Service. Online searchable database.

Kato, Hidetoshi. 2007. Herbarium records of Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University. Personal communication.

Lau, Alex/Frohlich, Danielle. 2012. New plant records from O‘ahu for 2009. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2011. Part II: Plants. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 113:7-26.

Little, Elbert L./Skolmen, Roger G. 1989. Common forest trees of Hawaii (native and introduced). USDA Agriculture Handbook 679. Washington, D.C. 377 pp. + plates.

Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. 2008. Flora of the Marquesas Islands. National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. Online database.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCarthy, Patrick M., ec. 1998. Flora of Australia. Vol. 12, Mimosaceae (excluding Acacia, Caesalpiniaceae. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

McCormack, Gerald. 2011. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Merrill, Elmer D. 1923. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants, vol. 2 [reprint]. Bureau of Printing, Manila. 530 pp.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2002. Voucher specimen #PTBG391(Tim Flynn 7095).

Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty]. 1984. Flora of the Bismarck Archipelago for naturalists. Office of Forests, Division of Botany, Lae, Papua New Guinea. 638 pp. ISBN 9980-66-000-7.

Smith, Albert C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.

Smith, Nicholas M. 2002. Weeds of the wet/dry tropics of Australia - a field guide. Environment Centre NT, Inc. 112 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. 2000. Survey of invasive or potentially invasive cultivated plants in Hawai‘i. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers No. 65. 35 pp.

Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd. 2008. Botanical survey of Midway Atoll. Prepared for: United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 27 pp. plus appendices.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).