Candle Bush, Ringworm Senna
A tropical plant. It prefers light to medium soils. It grows best in an open sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It grows in rainforests and near swamps. It suits humid locations. It grows from 5 m to 360 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. In some countries it has been recorded up to 2,100 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Also known as:
Anjananjana, Baba chakoda, Bhumiari, Bhupadma, Christmas candle, Chum het tet, Chum het yai, Cortalinde, Donghet, Empress candle plant, Gelenggang, Hpak-lam-mon-long, Hindi-sana, Kabaka, Katepeng badak, Ketepeng cina, Ketepeng, Khirkak, La'au fai lafa, Ludanggan, Mezali-gyi, Nat-ki-sana, Nela-tangedu, Nelavarike, Nila vaka, Nila virai, Pwesay-mezali, Ranauraa, Sanna-makki, Shona-makhi, Sindjo-el, Son-pat
Synonyms
- Cassia alata L.
- Cassia bracteata L.f.
- Cassia herpetica Jacq.
- Cassia rumphiana (DC.) Bojer
- Herpetica alata (L.) Raf.
Edible Portion
- Leaves, Seeds, Seeds - coffee, Flowers
Where does Candle Bush grow?
Found in: Africa, Amazon, American Samoa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Central Africa, Central America, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Thailand, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies
Notes: The leaves are used to treat ringworm. There are about 260 Senna species. It can be invasive. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Status: It is not known if they are used for food in Papua New Guinea.
Growing Candle Bush, Ringworm Senna
Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed.
Edible Uses: The young leaves and seeds have been recorded as eaten in Africa. The seeds are used as a coffee substitute. The flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Caution:
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Candle Bush, Ringworm Senna Photos
References
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Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 109 (As Cassia alata)
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Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 479 (As Cassia alata)
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Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 190
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World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew