Privet senna, Privet wild sensitive plant
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Senna ligustrina
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Fabaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Buffer plantings. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Native plant nurseries. Available at Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth (561-641-9488). |
Description: |
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Medium shrubby wildflower with erect stems and dark green leaves. |
Height: |
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About 4-8 feet in height. Taller than broad. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north to Brevard, Okeechobee and Levy counties; West Indies and Central America. Very rare in the Monroe County Keys and perhaps confined to Big Pine Key and nearby islands. |
Habitats: |
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Forest edges. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun to light shade. |
Flower Color: |
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Yellow. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Showy. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year. |
Fruit: |
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Brown pod (legume) with light margins. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Larval host plant for cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae), sleepy orange (Eurema nicippi) and the introduced orange-barred sulphur (Phoebis philea) butterflies. A gland at the base of the leaves attracts ants that attack the butterfly caterpillars. Bees are the primary pollinators.
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Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
Comments: |
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See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page. |
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Susan Stocker In habitat, Collier County, Florida, 2012
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Susan Stocker In habitat, Collier County, Florida, 2012
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Susan Stocker In habitat, Collier County, Florida, 2012
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