Senna sophera (L.) Roxb., Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Cassia sophera L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: amot tumagá karabao, amot-tumaga

Chinese: huai ye jue ming

Samoan: la‘au tinei lafa, lau matui

Tongan: lau matui, lau matui, matui

Ulithian: haeleng

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrubs, 1-2 (-3) m tall, glabrous. Leaves 7-18 (-21) cm; petiole 3-5 cm, with a subulate or narrow clavate gland 5-10 mm above petiole joint; petiolules ca. 2 mm; leaflets 4-10 pairs, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 1.7-4.2 x 0.7-2 cm, base rounded, apex acute to shortly acuminate. Corymbs axillary, few flowered; peduncles 1-2 cm; bracts ovate, ca. 5 mm; pedicels 1-1.5 cm. Sepals ovate-orbicular, ca. 5 mm. Petals yellow, obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, 6 or 7 fertile, 2 longer; anthers opening by apical pores; staminodes 3 or 4, ca. 2 mm. Ovary finely pubescent. Legume straight, 5-10 x 0.5-1 cm, flattened and slightly thick at first, subcylindric, ± swollen when ripe. Seeds 30-40, ovoid, compressed"  (Flora of China online).

"Erect herb 0.5-2 m high, soon becoming woody, only weakly malodorous... The larger leaves are 7-18 cm long, usually with 6-8 pairs of leaflets, the largest (distal) blades lanceolate or ovate-acuminate and up to 7 x 2 cm. The 4-10-flowered racemes have flowers with petals like those of Senna occidentalis but slightly smaller. The pods are erect or stiffly ascending, cylindric or linear-ellipsoid, and usually 6-9.5 x 0.7-1 cm" (Smith, 1985; p. 113).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "presumably indigenous and occurring near sea level, although weedy in aspect, apparently rare" (Smith, 1985; p. 113). "Uncommon in waste places in Tonga, not collected in Samoa since 1920" (Whistler, 1988; p. 27). In Tonga, "occasional as a plantation and waste-area weed" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 136). In New Caledonia, "largement répandu surtout près du littoral" (MacKee, 1994; p. 74).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Pantropical, but perhaps originally paleotropical (Smith, 1985; p. 113). An aboriginal introduction to Polynesia (Whistler, 1988; p. 27).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 91)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Aguijan (Agiguan, Aguihan) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 1933 (US), Fosberg 31716 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Falanruw 1675 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1946) (voucher ID: PTBG 22655) Taxon name on voucher: Senna sophora
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Fais Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99) May be a missidentification (Fosberg & Evans, 1969; p. 7).
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
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	probably native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 113) Probably indigenous per Smith. Voucher cited: Horne 1029
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 311) Voucher cited: Stone 4868 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Marshall Islands	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 99)
New Caledonia Récifs D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux Reefs)	Île Surprise	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Boulet in MacKee 31450
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Schmid 1282 (NOU)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Däniker 2003 (Z)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Sarasin 861 (Z)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Walpole	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Cherrier in MacKee 44035
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Vouchers cited: Vieillard 393, MacGillivray 19, Däniker 1626 (Z)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 74) Voucher cited: Pancher 814
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 264) An occasional weed in the settled areas at low and mediuim altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands	probably native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 113)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 27) Probably indigenous per Smith.
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	probably native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 113) Probably indigenous per Smith.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 32) Voucher cited: Soakai 370
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 136) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15620
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 136) Cited: Forster, Home.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Tafahi Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 136) Voucher cited: Hülimann 576
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 27)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) "Mountain slopes, roadsides. Central and southern China".
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 136) As Cassia sophera L.
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 184)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	uncertain if native	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	uncertain if native	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
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Maldive Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 20)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2011)

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

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

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

References:

Falanruw, Marjorie C./Maka, Jean E./Cole, Thomas G./Whitesell, Craig D. 1990. Common and scientific names of trees and shrubs of Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands. Pac. SW Forest and Range Expt. Stn. Resource Bulletin PSW-67. 91 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1957. The Maldive Islands, Indian Ocean. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 58. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 37 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Evans, M. 1969. A collection of plants from Fais, Caroline Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 133. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 15 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1975. Vascular flora of the northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 22:1-45.

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

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

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

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

Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro. 2004. Invasive alien species in Japan: the status quo and the new regulation for prevention of their adverse effects. Global Environmental Research 8(2)/2004: 171-191.

Setchell, William Albert. 1924. American Samoa; part I. Vegetation of Tutuila Island. part II. Ethnobotany of the Samoans. part III. Vegetation of Rose Atoll. The Carnegie Institution of Washington. 275 pp. + illus.

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

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Tassin, Jacques. 2005. Jacques Tassin (IAC-CIRAD), personal communication.

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

Whistler, W. A. 1984. Annotated list of Samoan plant names. Economic Botany 38:464.489.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 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.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.

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