翅果铁刀木

‧学名： Senna alata (Linn.) Roxb. Cassia alata L.

‧科名：豆科(Leguminosea)铁刀木属(Senna)
‧别名：翼柄决明、翼轴决明、翼柄旃那、翅荚决明、有翅决明、对叶豆、印度黄槐、山扁豆、七金烛台

‧英文名称： Ringworm Senna、Candle Bush、(Iron-knife-fruit) ，Emperor's Candlesticks, Golden Candle, Candlestick Senna, Christmas-candle, Ringworm Senna, Ringworm Bush

‧原产地：南美洲热带地区  

药用：植物的汁液用于治疗皮肤真菌感染，这就是为什么这种植物的英文名称是Ringworm Senna, Ringworm Bush。叶子误服会引起中毒。

‧茎： 株高3-5 公尺，粗状直立灌木，幼枝有下垂现象。
‧叶： 叶互生，偶数羽状复叶，小叶8-12 对，椭圆形或长卵形。
‧花：花序很特别，直立于茎顶，呈穗状，尖端褐黄，下部金黄，老化的花苞逐渐由下部脱落，显露细致的花梗，花色艳丽，像一支支黄橙橙的蜡烛。
‧果：荚果线形、具翅状，故有翅果铁刀木之名。

摄影/新加坡植物园、新加坡园林公园

Scientific Name: Senna alata

Synonyms: Cassia alata, Herpetica alata

Common Names: Emperor's Candlesticks, Candle Bush, Candlebush, Golden Candle, Candlestick Senna, Christmas-candle, Ringworm Senna, Ringworm BushPlant

Characteristics

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Tree, Shrub, Subshrub

Hawaii Native Status: Introduced. This naturalized ornamental garden plant is native to South America.

Flower Color: Brilliant yellow, Golden-orange

Height: Up to 16 feet (5 m) tall, but usually much less

Description: The flowers are densely clustered in erect, oblong, candle-like racemes. The individual flowers have 5 cupped petals and look like they are partly closed. The flower buds at the tips of the racemes are covered by protective, translucent, yellow to orange, petal-like bracts. The flowers are followed by up to 8 inch (20 cm) long, four-angled, winged bean pods containing tan or brown, 1/4 inch (6 mm) long seeds. The leaves are green, alternate, and pinnately compound with up to 14 pairs of oblong to egg-shaped leaflets. The plants are branched, woody, and upright.

The antifungal juice from the plant has been used on the skin as an herbal treatment for ringworm (a fungal skin infection), which is why this plant is sometimes called Ringworm Senna or Ringworm Bush.

Here in Hawaii, Emperor's Candlesticks can form dense stands in lush pastures and at the sunlit edges of forests.

Special Characteristics

Poisonous – The leaves are poisonous if eaten, and the rest of the plant may be as well.