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GENERAL
Origin
:
sub-tropical
Vigour
:
fast growing
Humidity
:
very arid, semi-
arid
Propagation :
direct sowing,
sowing and
pricking out
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
resistant
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
none
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (1500
ppm)
Hardiness
:
-6°C
SHAPE
Type
:
sub-shrub
Height
:
0.5 m-0.6 m
Spread
:
3 m-6 m
Foliage
:
semi-evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
yellow
Size
:
2 cm
Period
:
June - July
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
pod
Fruit size
:
6 cm
This undershrub, native to the Arabian Peninsula, has soft branches from a woody base. It is fairly
common in the desert, growing on rocky or gravelly sites, and its local name is ishriq; it is also re-
ferred to as Makkah Senna in English. The leaflets in pairs are obovate to oblong and blue-green
in colour. Its flowers are up to 2 cm in size with yellow petals striped with violet veins. The plant
flowers throughout the year, especially in summer. The seedpods are long, papery, slightly curved
and conspicuous on the plant. Ishriq is well known for its medicinal properties, and is used as
a purgative and a stimulant. It is often afflicted by aphids, and the honeydew which they secrete
attracts ants. It will adapt to many sites, and in hot summers its green foliage is very noticeable in
a desert landscape. C. italica can be recommended for use in landscape design in open situations
as a coloniser or slope stabiliser, and for environmental consolidation. It will be valuable for the
rehabilitation of natural plant cover. In inner-city locations with only minimal irrigation, its foli-
age will make an impact by staying green throughout the year. Some tidying will be necessary. It
can be considered for natural themes or in situations where other plants are struggling because
of harsh site conditions such as roadside greening.
88
Cassia italica,
Caesalpiniaceae
Dog Senna,
Makkah Senna, ishriq