851
Senna
alata (L.)Roxb.
Synonym
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:
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Cassia alata
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Family
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:
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Fabaceae
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Local name
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:
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Malayalam -Malamthakara,
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Flowering and fruiting
period
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:
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September-January
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Distribution
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:
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Pantropical
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Distribution in Kerala
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:
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All Districts
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Habitat
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:
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Along riversides and margins of ponds
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Uses
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:
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The main medicinal
uses of Senna alata are as a
laxative or purgative and in the treatment of skin problems
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Key botanical
characters :
Erect shrubs to 4 m tall. Leaves 28-60 cm long; leaflets
6-12 pairs, oblong to obovate-oblong, apex rounded, base rounded to
subcordate; stipules 1-2 cm long, deltoid, base auriculate, apex acute to
acuminate. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, many-flowered spicate raceme,
40-60 cm long. Flowers yellow; bracts petaloid, yellow, ovate-elliptic,
subacute. Sepals, yellow. Petals yellow, , obovate. Stamens 10, Pods linear,
4-winged, septate, dehiscen; seeds many, rhomboid, compressed, dark brown.  |
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