Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
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Shrubs

Green Feathery Senna, Senna artemisioides v. filifolia

Green Feathery Senna, Senna artemisioides v. filifolia

Senna, Cassia covesii	Senna, Cassia covesii
Senna, Cassia covesii	Senna, Cassia covesii

Green Feathery Senna Senna artemisioides v. filifolia, Legume or Pea Family ( Leguminosae ), Green Feathery Senna. Also called . A bushy perennial covered with fine white hairs reproducing by seeds only. The stems are 1 to 2 feet high, branching from a woody base. The grayish green leaves are 1 to 2 inches long, including the stalks. They are divided into 2 to 4 pairs of large oblong, point tipped leaflets, 1/3 to 1 1/4 inches long. The flowers are in several to many stalked clusters at the top of the stems, and in the leaf axils. They have 5 large yellow petals about 1/2 inch long, with reddish veins, and 10 stamens with large orange anthers. The slightly curved pods, 3/4 to 1 1/3 inches long, are tipped by a stiff point about 1/8 inch long. They pop open with force when mature, throwing the seeds some distance from the plant. The pinkish brown seeds are pearshaped, deeply wrinkled, and flattened, about l/8 inch long. Senna artemisioides (formerly Cassia artemisioides) is a small woody shrub to 2m tall with a silvery appearance created by short white hairs on the branchlets and leaves. Leaves are pinnate, 2-4cm long with 4-8 pairs of leaflets. These are narrowly cylindrical, grey green or silvery, 1-4cm x0.2-0.3cm. Bright yellow flowers about 1.5cm diameter are borne in small clusters in the leaf axils. These are followed bystraight, brown pods 4-8cm x 1cm. Desert senna is a very common native weed of dry disturbed soil throughout Arizona, which is found along roadsides and waste places; also on rocky slopes, mesas, sandy river bottoms, and washes in the deserts, and desert grassland ranges; from about 1,000 to 3,500 feet elevation; flowering from March through October. The 1 inch wide flowers have 5 petals and are followed by long, fuzzy, brown seed pods that become woody and twisted when dry. The dull green leaves are pinnate with 2 to 3 pairs of elliptical leaflets. The stems are tan and fuzzy. Not to be confused with Two leaf Desert Senna, Cassia bauhinioides, which looks almost exactly like desert senna, except the leaves are divided into just 2 leaflets (1 pair), and there are only 2 flowers in each stalked axillary cluster, with no flowers borne at the tip of the stems. Height: Up To About 24" Tall. Flowers: Yellow, 5 large yellow petals about 1/2 inch long, with red - brown veins, 10 stamens with large orange anthers. Blooming Time: March - October. Fruit: Slightly curved pods, 3/4 to 1 1/3 inches long, are tipped by a stiff point about 1/8 inch long. Leaves: Dull green pinnate leaves with 2 to 3 pairs of elliptical leaflets. Found: Found in California and Arizona. Elevation: 800 - 3500 Feet. Habitat: Cities along roadsides and waste places; also on rocky slopes, mesas, sandy river bottoms, and washes in the deserts, and desert grassland ranges. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken April 18, 2004.