How to identify Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia)

How to identify Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia)

Sicklepod, also known as American sicklepod, Blunt-leaf senna, Sickle senna, Coffeeweed, Coffee pod

Sicklepod displays a distinct herbaceous growth, featuring a branching habit typically reaching heights of up to 3 feet (91 cm). The foliage is characterized by broad, slightly curved leaves that taper to a blunt tip, embodying the species' Latin etymology. Leaves are paired with each pair staggered from the next along the stem. The plant blooms in warmer months, producing small, bright yellow flowers with five petals each. Seed pods follow, which are long, slender, and slightly curved, resembling a sickle in shape.

Lifespan: Annual, Perennial

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Sicklepod

Herbaceous plant with branching habit up to 3 feet (91 cm) tall.

Bright yellow flowers with five petals, appearing in upper leaf axils.

Distinctive long, slender, sickle-shaped seed pods measuring 4-6 inches (10-15 cm).

Alternate, pinnately divided leaves with obovate leaflets and an unpleasant scent.

Light green, ridged stem with sparse branching and minimal hair-like structures.

Detailed Traits of Sicklepod

Leaf Features

The leaves of sicklepod are alternate and pinnately divided, featuring three pairs of obovate leaflets that measure 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in width. Each leaflet tapers to a point at the tip. The stipules are usually not persistent. The leaves are lighter green underneath and hairless, with a long petiole and a distinct unpleasant scent. These characteristics are key for identifying sicklepod.

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Flower Features

Sicklepod flowers are characterized by their bright yellow to pale yellow coloration, featuring five distinct petals. They also possess five green sepals and seven stamens, each with beaked anthers. The flowers, measuring approximately 5/8 inch (16 mm) across, typically appear in pairs within the upper leaf axils. Blooming occurs from late summer through to fall, making them a striking feature as the seasons transition.

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Stem Features

The stem of sicklepod is light green and slightly ridged. It displays a smooth texture interspersed with minimal hair-like structures. Typical stems are slender, measuring approximately 0.1-0.2 inches (2.5-5 mm) in diameter, and showcase a thin, flexible construction. Branching tends to be sparse and evenly spaced along the stem. The ridges on the surface provide subtle textural variation, enhancing its distinctive appearance.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of sicklepod is distinctive, presenting as a slender, four-angled (terete) bean pod, approximately 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in length and 1/4 inch (about 6 mm) wide. Its notable sickle shape and brownish-green color offer a visual cue to its identification. The fruit's texture and curved form stand out against the foliage, with the mature pods often appearing to dangle elegantly from the branches.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Sicklepod and Their Similar Plants

Coffee senna vs. Sicklepod: What's The Difference?

Coffee senna (*Senna occidentalis*) is a perennial shrub that prefers warm and humid environments. It is sometimes considered an invasive weed that grows in open woodlands, waste areas, and roadsides. It blooms in spring with yellow flowers, followed by brown fruit in late summer and early fall. Seeds can be used as a coffee substitute, although it does not contain caffeine.

Christmas bush vs. Sicklepod: What's The Difference?

Formerly known as Senna bicapsularis, but more commonly called the christmas bush, this attractive evergreen shrub can grow quite large. It features sunny yellow blooms that appear late in the fall and last through the frost.

Wild senna vs. Sicklepod: What's The Difference?

A versatile member of the legume species, wild senna features clusters of yellow-orange flowers, seed pods, and foliage that changes color in the fall. It once grew wild throughout the Northeastern United States but is now in a protected status. The seed pods are an important food source for the white bob bird, and bees find its pollen particularly attractive.

Maryland senna vs. Sicklepod: What's The Difference?

The foliage of maryland senna(Senna marilandica) gives off a malodorous scent when it's ground up. Because of the unpleasant taste, this species is usually ignored by deer.

Golden wonder tree vs. Sicklepod: What's The Difference?

Golden wonder tree is a deciduous tree with a height ranging from 2 to 15 m, fast-growing with a leafy canopy.

Silver Senna vs. Sicklepod: What's The Difference?

An Australian native, silver Senna is not only beautiful but so tough that it can grow as an understory plant to Eucalyptus and gum trees, which alter soil pH so much that almost nothing else can grow near them. This tree has some other unusual characteristics: it grows larger in dry shade than in full sun, and it yellows if given too much water instead of not enough.

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Key Facts About Sicklepod

Attributes of Sicklepod

Lifespan

Annual, Perennial

Plant Type

Herb

Plant Height

61 cm to 1.5 m

Spread

1 m

Fruit Color

Brown

Green

Copper

Stem Color

Green

Leaf type

Deciduous

The Toxicity of Sicklepod

Slightly Toxic to Humans

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Scientific Classification of Sicklepod

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Legumes, milkworts and allies

Family

Legume

Genus

Sennas

Species

Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia)

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Distribution Map of Sicklepod

The geographical presence of sicklepod spans across various continents where it is native to parts of South and Central America, as well as the Middle East. It has also been introduced to regions in Africa, Asia, and Europe, where its presence is notable but not dominant. Sicklepod has become naturalized in some of these areas, and in certain places, it is sometimes thought to be invasive, potentially posing an impact on local ecosystems. The extent of its impact, however, varies and is not uniformly observed across its introduced range.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Sicklepod

A Comprehensive Guide to Sicklepod How to Grow and Care for Sicklepod