About Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock
Senna petersiana, commonly known as monkey pod or eared senna, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Africa. Its leaves are compound, with around 12 opposite lanceolate leaflets; these leaflets are dark green on the upper surface and lighter in color on the lower surface. This species produces large numbers of bright yellow flowers, which grow on erect, multi-branched inflorescences. Senna petersiana was previously classified in the genus Cassia. Its natural native range includes Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini. It has been introduced to several Indian Ocean islands, and has become naturalized in far northern Madagascar. Few to no animals include this plant in their diet. It has beneficial uses in traditional medicine, where it is used to treat constipation and intestinal worms, and may also be used to treat diabetes. It is also thought to help fight against MCF-7 cancer cells.
