Common Name: Oneleaf senna
One-leaf senna is a native of Central America, often seen on road-sides and fallow lands in Tamilnadu. The plant grows to a height of about 1 meter. They grow profusely in moist areas. The leaves are arranged in an alternate manner; the leaves are single compound; leaflets are arranged in an opposite manner and margins are entire. The young branches are ribbed and green in color. The leaf stalk measure around 2.8 cm in length; the leaf-rachis has 4 pairs of leaflet. The leaves measure around 3.5 cm in length; and leaf shape is obovate; base is slightly unequal and has a notched tip. The leaves are velvety and hairy on both sides. At the base of the first, second and third pair of leaflets a stalked gland is present. The flowers of axillary in short flowering stalks and flowers are held close to the central stem. The flower has 5 sepals which are unequal in shape and size. The flower petals are five in number, yellow in color and polypetalous. The flower contains 10 stamens and a single style. The fruit is in the form of a pod, which is erect and beaked. The pod stalk measure around 1.5 cm and the pod measure around 4.2 cm. The pod has nearly 10 segments marked on it- corresponding to each seed.
