POPCORN SENA.. (totally not popcorn

POPCORN SENA…KUMUBENUBENU (senna didymobotrya)

Derivation of the name: Khubenula -to protect. The ash of the tree is licked in the belief of  protecting against disease and bad dreams.

Natural habitat and distribution in Bungoma:

Habitat: riverine, forest edges.

Distribution: found in swampy areas, in secondary vegetation and cultivated land along field boundaries.

Popcorn sena

Abundant along the forest edge on Mt Elgon.

Description: Bark greyish and rather smooth. Leaves paripinnate, up to 45 cm long, 8-18 pairs of leaflets. Flower spectacular, yellow, crowded  at the end of branches. The species flowers from three month onwards. Fruit a pod flat, hairy.

Physical features: Shape: shrub up to 6m high, occasionally tree-like appearance but usually bushy. Crown: rounded. Foliage: rather light, semi deciduous.

Biological features:

Tree/crop association: common among field bounders and in wet fallow land but not directly associated with crops.

Biomass production: rather fast growing.

Other characteristics: the bark contains tannin. The species is poisonous, the roots contain an antidote against the poison produced in the leaves and in the stem. The plant repels bees.

Reproduction: seeds.

Ecological benefit: Soil stabilisation along stream banks and in areas with temporary impeded drainage.

Tree products and use: fish poison, preservation of milk. The powdered charcoal is used to sterilize, flavor, colour and preserve milk.

Medical application: Leaf: bad dreams. Bark: Tape worm infection. Root: gonorrhoea, diarrhoea, stomach ache, bleeding. Flower: embaa (high fever and malaria), libure (allergy)