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Senna, the sennas, is a large genus of in the legume family (Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae, tribe Cassieae ser. Aphyllae ). This biodiversity genus is native throughout the tropics, with a small number of species in temperate regions. The number of species is estimated to be from about 260 to 350.Randell, B. R. and B. A. Barlow. 1998. Senna. pp 89-138. In: A. S. George (executive editor). Flora of Australia volume 12. Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, Australia. The type species for the genus is Senna alexandrina. About 50 species of Senna are known in cultivation.Huxley, A., et al. (1992). The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. The Macmillan Press, Limited: London. The Stockton Press: New York. (set).
The genus Senna has had a complex taxonomic history.Singh, V. 2001. Monograph on the Indian Subtribe Cassiinae. Scientific Publishers (India): Jodhpur, India. What is now known as Senna was included by Carl Linnaeus in his concept of Cassia in Species Plantarum in 1753.Linnaeus, C. 1753. Cassia. page 376. In: Species Plantarum volume 1. Cassia (including Senna) In: Species Plantarum volume 1 At: Biodiversity Heritage Library Philip Miller segregated Senna from Cassia in 1754 in the fourth edition of The Gardeners Dictionary.Miller, P. 1754. The Gardeners Dictionary, Abridged 4th edition. Until 1982, many authors, following Linnaeus, did not recognize Senna and Chamaecrista, but included them in a broadly circumscribed Cassia sensu. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA have shown that Chamaecrista, Cassia, and Senna are all monophyletic, but the relationships between these three genera have not been resolved. They are therefore shown in phylogenetic trees as a Polytomy.
A fossil seed pod of a Senna sp. from the middle Eocene epoch has been described from the Rancho clay pit in Henry County, Tennessee, United States.The Fossil History of Leguminosae from the Eocene of Southeastern North America by Patrick S. Herendeen, Advances in Legume Systematics: Part 4, The Fossil Record, Ed. P. S. Herendeen & Dilcher, 1992, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
Some species have extrafloral nectaries on the leaves or flower stalks that are visited by ants.
Cassia gum, an extract of the seeds of Chinese senna ( S. obtusifolia), is used as a thickening agent. The leaves and flowers of Siamese cassia ( Senna siamea) are used in some Southeast Asian cuisines, such as Thai cuisine, Burmese cuisine and . They are known as khi-lek in Thai language, and are used in curry.
Plants in the Senna genus have been studied for their beneficial effects arising from the abundance of phytochemicals, bioactive components and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Senna or its extracted Senna glycoside, alone or in combination with sorbitol or lactulose, have been evaluated in systematic reviews and Cochrane reviews for treatment of constipation in children and the elderly. Some studies showed limited evidence for efficacy, whereas others indicated the study designs were too weak to be certain of senna having utility as a laxative.
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