Family: Fabaceae
Author: (L.) Roxb.
Bibliography: Fl. Ind. ed. 1832, 2: 349 (1832)
Year: 1832
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Senna
Vegetable: False
Observations: SW. Mexico to Trop. America
Description
The Christmas-candle, scientifically known as Senna alata, is a strikingly beautiful plant that belongs to the Fabaceae family. First documented in Flora Indica in 1832, the Christmas-candle was described by William Roxburgh, with its lineage tracing back to the famed botanist Carl Linnaeus, denoted by the abbreviation (L.) in its scientific classification.
Senna alata thrives in tropical climates and is predominantly found stretching from southwestern Mexico through to various regions in Tropical America. This elegant plant is easily recognizable by its bright yellow, candle-like inflorescences which give it its common name. These tall, erect flower spikes can often be seen illuminating tropical gardens, lending a festive appearance reminiscent of Christmas candles.
Known for its robust, shrub-like growth, the Christmas-candle can often reach heights of 3-4 meters. Its leaves are large, pinnate compound, providing a lush, dense foliage that enhances its ornamental appeal. Beyond its visual charm, Senna alata is also valued for its traditional medicinal uses. In many tropical communities, its leaves and other parts of the plant have been used to treat fungal skin infections, contributing to its more colloquial name, “ringworm bush.”
Overall, Senna alata is not just a visually captivating plant but also a significant botanical species with practical applications in traditional medicine. It continues to hold a special place in the regions spanning from southwestern Mexico to the broader tropical Americas, where it brightens landscapes and supports local healthcare traditions.
Common Names
Eng: christmas-candle, emperor’s candlesticks, candlebush, candlestick senna, empress-candleplant, ringworm senna, ringwormbush, ringwormshrub, seven-golden-candles, seven-golden-candlesticks, christmas candle, ringworm bush
Spa: bajagua, mocoté
Fra: bois dartre, dartres
Khm: ដង្ហិត
En: Christmas-candle, Candlebush, Candlestick senna, Seven-golden-candles, Seven-golden-candlesticks, Empress-candleplant, Ringworm senna, Ringwormbush, Ringwormshrub, Emperor’s candlesticks, Christmas Candle, Ringworm Bush, Candelabra Bush, Candle bush
Fr: Bois dartre, Dartres, Epis d’Or, Cassialata, Quatre épingles, Dartrier
Km: ដង្ហិត
Pt-br: Fedegoso-gigante, Fedegoso-grande, Café-beirão, Mangerioba-do-Pará, Mangerioba-grande, Mata-pasto
Es: Bajagua, Mocoté
Synonyms
- Cassia arayatensis (Náves ex Fern.-Vill.)
- Cassia alata (L.)
- Herpetica rumphiana ((DC.) J.Presl)
- Cassia herpetica (Jacq.)
- Cassia bracteata (L.f.)
- Cassia alata var. perennis (Pamp.)
- Cassia alata var. rumphiana (DC.)
- Herpetica alata ((L.) Raf.)
Distribution
- Belize (native)
- Bolivia (native)
- Brazil North (native)
- Brazil Northeast (native)
- Brazil Southeast (native)
- Brazil West-Central (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Costa Rica (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- French Guiana (native)
- Guyana (native)
- Haiti (native)
- Honduras (native)
- Jamaica (native)
- Leeward Is. (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Nicaragua (native)
- Panamá (native)
- Paraguay (native)
- Peru (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- Southwest Caribbean (native)
- Suriname (native)
- Trinidad-Tobago (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Windward Is. (native)
- Andaman Is. (introduced)
- Angola (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Assam (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Benin (introduced)
- Bismarck Archipelago (introduced)
- Borneo (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- Burkina (introduced)
- Burundi (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Cambodia (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Caroline Is. (introduced)
- Central African Repu (introduced)
- Chad (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Comoros (introduced)
- Congo (introduced)
- East Himalaya (introduced)
- El Salvador (introduced)
- Ethiopia (introduced)
- Fiji (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Gabon (introduced)
- Galápagos (introduced)
- Gambia (introduced)
- Ghana (introduced)
- Guinea (introduced)
- Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
- Hainan (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- India (introduced)
- Ivory Coast (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Kenya (introduced)
- Laos (introduced)
- Liberia (introduced)
- Madagascar (introduced)
- Malawi (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Mali (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Marshall Is. (introduced)
- Myanmar (introduced)
- New Guinea (introduced)
- Nicobar Is. (introduced)
- Nigeria (introduced)
- Niue (introduced)
- Northern Territory (introduced)
- Oman (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Philippines (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Samoa (introduced)
- Senegal (introduced)
- Seychelles (introduced)
- Sierra Leone (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- Sumatera (introduced)
- Tanzania (introduced)
- Thailand (introduced)
- Togo (introduced)
- Tonga (introduced)
- Uganda (introduced)
- Vietnam (introduced)
- West Himalaya (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Zaïre (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Aug 10, 2020 by cheriette van der lugt (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 19, 2020 by Atifa Maysa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 15, 2019 by jangleress (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 16, 2017 by christiane Fazer (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 23, 2021 by Dr Hadi Hakim (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jun 23, 2004 by Hervé Rey (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 22, 2022 by FRANCO CALDERON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 22, 2017 by Guy Van Laere (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 14, 2021 by Maquiavelito (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 18, 2019 by Jean-Christophe Lombardo (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jun 20, 2020 by Aristide ZOUNG (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 23, 2018 by Ruddy BENEZET (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 18, 2019 by Jean-Christophe Lombardo (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Nov 17, 2021 by Bagmita Naug (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 14, 2021 by Maquiavelito (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 6, 2019 by Ashraf Hassan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 12, 2021 by juste loussibou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 23, 2021 by Olusegun Abiola (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Nov 23, 2016 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 29, 2020 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 27, 2019 by Quyền Nguyễn Hùng (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 22, 2017 by Guy Van Laere (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 19, 2022 by Franco Colnago (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 9, 2022 by Giacomo Sellan (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 24, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Céline PIRAT (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Céline PIRAT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2022 by pedrogc — (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2956947)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1192167-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Senna alata (L.) Roxb.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Tree, Subshrub, Shrub