Senna tora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Senna tora |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Senna
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| Species: |
tora
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| Synonyms | |
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Numerous, see text |
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Senna tora is a plant that belongs to the Fabaceae family. This family includes many plants like peas and beans. Its name comes from the Sinhala word "tora" (තෝර).
This plant grows wild in many warm, tropical parts of the world. It is often seen as a weed in these areas. Senna tora originally comes from Central America. Some common names for it are sickle senna, sickle wild sensitive-plant, sickle pod, tora, coffee pod, and foetid cassia. People sometimes confuse it with another plant called Senna obtusifolia.
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What Does Senna tora Look Like?
Senna tora is an annual plant, meaning it lives for only one year. It can grow from about 30 to 90 centimeters (about 1 to 3 feet) tall. Its leaves are made up of smaller leaflets, usually with three pairs that are shaped like an upside-down egg. These leaflets are about 3 to 4.5 centimeters long.
When the plant is young, its stems have a strong smell. The flowers are pale yellow and grow in pairs. They have five petals. The seed pods are flat or have four sides. They are about 10 to 15 centimeters long and look like a sickle, which is a curved tool. This is why it's often called "sickle pod." Each pod holds 30 to 50 seeds.
Where and How Senna tora Grows
Senna tora is a very tough plant that can grow easily. It is often found as a weed in dry soil, from sea level up to 1800 meters high. In places like India, it grows after the monsoon rains, usually from October to February.
The seeds of Senna tora can stay alive for a very long time, up to twenty years! After it rains, as many as 1000 plants can sprout in just one square meter. Once the seeds are ready, they are collected and dried in the sun. In South Asia, the plant usually dies during the dry season, from July to October.
Pests and Diseases
In a place called Vanuatu, which is an island in the South Pacific, Senna tora can be slightly damaged by a type of moth. The young moths, called larvae, eat the leaves of the plant. This moth is known as Stegasta variana.
How People Use Senna tora
Senna tora has many different uses. In traditional medicine in India and South Asia, people have used the whole plant, including its roots, leaves, and seeds.
Both the plant and its seeds can be eaten. Young leaves can be cooked like a vegetable. The roasted seeds are sometimes used as a substitute for coffee. In Sri Lanka, people even add the flowers to their food.
This plant is also used as a natural way to control pests on organic farms. Its powder is often used in the pet food industry. It can also be mixed with another substance called guar gum for use in mining and other industries.
The seeds and leaves are used to help with skin problems. The seeds can also act as a laxative, which helps with digestion. Senna tora is also made into a tea. In the Republic of Korea, some people believe this tea can help improve eyesight. This tea is sometimes called "coffee-tea" because it tastes and smells a bit like coffee.
Because Senna tora can help fight germs and parasites, it has been used to treat skin conditions like leprosy, ringworm, itching, and psoriasis. It has also been used for snakebites. People also make a balm from the leaves to help with arthritis. Senna tora contains a natural compound called anthraquinone, which is used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to help with swelling.
Economic Importance
Senna tora is important for some industries. A substance called galactomannans, found in Senna tora seeds, can be processed to make a thickener. This thickener, called CT gum, can be a cheaper option than other thickeners used in textiles.
Many CT-gum processing factories in India are in the state of Gujarat. This is because the beans are available in nearby states. However, people also use these beans as vegetables and feed them to cattle. This has made the raw material more expensive for the CT-gum industry.
Senna tora products are exported to many countries. These include the United States, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Japan. The amount of money earned from these exports has been growing over the last five years. Japan and the UK regularly receive supplies, while the market in the United States changes more often.
How to Grow Senna tora
If you want to grow Senna tora, first soak the seeds in warm water for 2 to 3 hours. Then, you can plant them from early spring to early summer. You can plant them in a warm greenhouse or a pot at home. The seeds usually sprout in 1 to 12 weeks if the temperature is around 23°C (73°F). You can also move Senna tora plants to a new spot after they start growing.
Confusing Names (Synonyms)
The history of the names for Senna tora is quite confusing. For a long time, and even sometimes today, Senna tora and Senna obtusifolia were thought to be the same species. Because of this, names that referred to one plant were often used for the other.
- Cassia boreensis
- Cassia borneensis
- Cassia gallinaria
- Cassia numilis
- Cassia tora
- Cassia tora var. borneensis
- Emelista tora
Where Senna tora Lives
Senna tora is found in many places around the world. It grows a lot in parts of Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan. It is also grown in the Himalayas in Nepal, at heights of up to 1400 meters. You can find it throughout India, Sri Lanka, West China, and other tropical areas, especially in forests and tribal regions.
It is considered an invasive species in New Caledonia.
Gallery
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A young Senna tora plant, about two weeks old.
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An old branch with Senna tora seeds.
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Cassia tora plant.
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Pollen from Senna tora.
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Another view of pollen from Senna tora.
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See also
In Spanish: Senna tora para niños
