Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 77 FABACEAE 113
(Hodge 2930, Salisbury (Stern & Wasshamen 2592, Whitefood
4520), Scotts Head (Hodge 1620), sine loc. (Hodge 2936,
Imray s.n.).
Cultivated by Caribs for ritual use (Hodge and Taylor,
1957:562).
Senna hirsuta
Senna hirsuia (Linnaeus) Invin & Bameby, 1979:499; 1982:425.
Cassia hirsuta Linnaeus. 1753:378.
Diiremexa hirsuta (Linnaeus) Britton & Rose ex Britton & Wilson, 1924.
5:372.
Zepiante marrow, z’herbes puantes (male), kulabule (Carib),
nhakere haho (Carib women talk,meaning ants’ hammock).
Herb to 1.5 m; leaflets 3-5 pairs, hirsute, ovate to lanceolate,
4-7 cm long, acute or acuminate, fruit 8-15 cm long, curved,
erect.
Neotropics; in disturbed areas of Dominica: Carib Reserve
(Stehlt 6370, Taylor 122), without locality (Eggers 522,814).
This is considered as male by Caribs, S. occidentalis being
female. An infusion of the ground seeds of either species is
used as a coffee substitute and a febrifuge, the preparation from
the “female” species being preferred (to coffee) by pregnant
women (see Hodge and Taylor, 1957562).
Senna obtusifolia
Senna obtusifolia (Linnaeus) Irwin & Bameby, 1982252.
Cassia obiusifolia Linnaeus. 1753:377.-Brenan, 1958:248.
Herb to 1 m; leaflets in 3 pairs, a clavate gland between the
lowest pair, obovate, to 5 cm long; fruit to 20 cm long, usually
falcate, erect; seed dark, with a linear areole on both sides.
Originally neotropical, now widely distributed; Dominica:
Dublanc (Whitefoord 4290), Belmont in St. Georges Parish
(Broadway s.n. 17 Apr 1966 at NY), Roseau-Canefield (Hodge
595). Adjanohoun et al. (1985:63, pl. 29) warned against
confusing this “male” taxon with S. occidentalis, the “female.”
This originally neotropical species is easily confused with
introduced Old World S. tora Linnaeus.
Senna occidentalis
Senna occidenialb (Linnaeus) Link, 1831, 2140.-Invin & Bameby,
1982436.
Cassia occidenialis Linnaeus, 1753:377.
Ditremexa occidenialis (Linnaeus) Britton & Rose ex Brim & Wilson, 1924,
5:377.
Coffee senna, jumbie coffee, wild coffee, negro coffee,
stinking weed, z’herbes puantes (female), kulabule (Carib).
Herb to 2 m; leaflets 4-5 pairs, glabrous, ciliate, ovate to
lanceolate, 3-7 cm long, acute or acuminate; floral peduncles
el cm long; styles slightly dilated and only gently recurved;
hit 6-12 cm long, compressed, erect.
Pantropical; in disturbed lowlands of Dominica: Clarke Hall
(Ernst 1693), Colihaut (Kimber 1065), Delices (Whitefoord
3684), Goodwill (Wilbur 7580), Hatton Garden (Hodge 3030,
3189, Lisdara (Hodge 598), Portsmouth (Hodge 596), Pointe
Michel (Gillis 8156), Roseau-Canefield (Hodge 599, Scotts
Head (Hodge 1618), Soufrikre (Lloyd 408), West Cabrit (Smith
10328), Bot. Gard. (Hodge 989), sine loc. (Taylor 123).
Stehlk 6370 from Bataca in the Carib Reserve is mixed, the
leaves are S. hirsuta and the fruits are S. occidentalis.
Hodge and Taylor (1957563) discussed the use of this
species by the Caribs. See discussion above under S. hirsuta.
Adjanohoun et al. (1985:61, pl. 28) reported medicinal usages.
Senna tora
Senna tora (Linnaeus) Roxburgh, 1832, 2:340.-Ixwin & Bameby, 1982255
[sub Senna obtusifolia].
Cassia tora Linnaeus, 1753:376.-Brenan, 1958:249.
Shrubby herb to 1 m; leaflets in 3 pairs, a clavate gland
between the two lowest pairs, obovate, to 3 cm long; young
hits to 15 cm long, usually falcate, erect; seeds not collected
on Dominica.
Asia to Pacific but now a widespread weed; in Dominica
reported to form a low thicket: Canefield Estate (Whitefoord
3740).
This species is easily confused with Senna obtusifolia.
Adams (1972325) reported that true S. tora occurs on Jamaica
(one collection) and on Guadeloupe. At US, Proctor 19847
(Guadeloupe) and Smith & Smith 824 (St. Vincent) are true S.
tora.
Stylosanthes Swartz (Faboid)
Stylosanthes hamata
Stylosanihes hamaia (Linnaeus) Taubert, 1890:22.-Mohlenbrock, 1957:324.
Hedysarwn h im Linnaeus, 1759a:1170.
Herbs; stipules adnate to petioles, with subulate apices;
leaflets 3, estipellate, narrow to 17 cm x 5 mm, strongly
striately veined; flowers small, capitate, terminal; upper 4 calyx
lobes k united; stamens united; style elongated, lower part
persistent and hooked (hamate); pod 1-2-jointed.
Neotropics, attributed to Dominica by Velez (1957:lOl)
based on his own observation. To be sought along littoral on
west coast.
Swart& Schreber, nom. cons. (Caesalpinoid)
Trees; leaves odd-pinnate, 1-5-foliolate; calyx reflexing;
corolla none or of one petal; stamens 2-many; pod orange,
rounded 1(-2)-seeded; seed black with a large white aril.
1. Leaflets (3-)5-7; petals absent; inflorescence -15 cm
long; pedicel 1 cm long . . . . . . . . . . . . S. caribaea
1. Leaflets 1; petal 1; inflorescence -5 cm long; pedicel 2 cm
long. . . . . . . , . , . . . . . . . . . . , . , S. simplex