Senna glutinosa (DC.) Randell

Taxon Identity and Growth Form

Senna glutinosa (DC.) Randell is an erect or straggling shrub or small tree, more or less hairless, that typically reaches 0.3–4 m (1 ft 0 in – 13 ft 1 in) in height.

Surface Texture

Its stems, leaves, and outer flower structures are sticky.

Leaf Structure

The leaves are pinnate, with up to seven pairs of leaflets spaced more than 6 mm (0.24 in) apart, growing on a petiole longer than 6 mm (0.24 in).

Leaflet Variation

Leaflet size and shape vary by subspecies.

Flower Arrangement and Color

This species produces yellow flowers clustered near the ends of branches.

Sepal Characteristics

Its sepals are oval, greenish-yellow, and 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long.

Petal Characteristics

The petals are oval, 11–15 mm (0.43–0.59 in) long.

Stamen Characteristics

Each flower has ten fertile stamens, with anthers 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is a flat pod 50–70 mm (2.0–2.8 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide.

General Distribution

Senna glutinosa grows in arid shrubland across all mainland Australian states and the Northern Territory, with the exception of Victoria.

Subspecies Ranges

The different subspecies have distinct ranges: subspecies chatelainiana grows in central west Western Australia; subspecies glutinosa occurs from north-west Western Australia through the Northern Territory to north-western South Australia; subspecies × luerssenii grows from the central coast of Western Australia to near the Northern Territory border; and subspecies pruinosa is found from north-western Western Australia to far northern South Australia, far western Queensland, and far western New South Wales.