Candle bush
Senna alata (L.) Roxb.
Senna alata (candle bush) is an ornamental and medicinal cassia of the legume family, with showy yellow candle-like flower spikes and winged pods; its crushed leaves are a folk remedy for ringworm.
No ratings yet — be the first!
Gallery
Candle bush — growth habitCandle bush — yellow candle-like flower spikes
Candle bush — flower, leaves and fruit
Candle bush — pinnate leaves
Candle bush — leaf and winged pod
Candle bush — winged podsCandle bush — growth habitCandle bush — yellow candle-like flower spikesOverview
Senna alata, commonly called candle bush, is a herbaceous to shrubby plant in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the legume family (Fabaceae), growing up to 3–4 m tall. Its leaves are evenly pinnate with 8–20 pairs of obovate leaflets that fold together at night (a sleep movement). The flowers are borne in long, upright spikes of bright yellow to orange-yellow, packed so closely that they resemble candles, blooming from summer to autumn. The fruit is a pod 15–25 cm long with a distinctive raised wing along each side (echoed by the epithet alata and the Chinese name 翅荚决明, “winged-pod cassia”), containing numerous flat seeds. The whole plant has a pungent odour and a slightly astringent taste.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/12/2026
The species is native to Mexico and the Neotropics (Central and South America and the Caribbean) and has become naturalised across many tropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Pacific islands, up to about 1200 m. It is widely grown as an ornamental for its striking flower spikes, and the young leaves are eaten as a vegetable in some countries. In traditional medicine the crushed leaves are applied to the skin to treat fungal infections, especially ringworm, thanks to chrysophanic acid and other anthraquinones; the leaves and seeds are also used as a laxative and a cooling remedy. Note that the plant's anthraquinones give it a strong purgative action, so prolonged use is not advised, and pregnant women and young children should take care.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/12/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productPlant
Herb to shrub 3–4 m tall, branching, growing in thickets by roads and water.
Leaves
Evenly pinnate leaves with 8–20 pairs of obovate leaflets that fold at night.
Flowers
Upright spikes of bright yellow to orange-yellow flowers packed like candles, blooming summer–autumn.
Fruit
Pod 15–25 cm long with a raised wing on each side, containing many flat seeds.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Mexico & Central America (native)20%
- South America & the Caribbean (native)15%
- Southeast Asia (introduced, common)30%
- South & East Asia15%
- Africa & Pacific islands20%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Anthraquinones (rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol)Strong laxative action30%
- Chrysophanic acid (chrysophanol)Antifungal — treats ringworm15%
- Sennosides (anthraquinone glycosides)Purgative principles15%
- Flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin)Antioxidant15%
- Tannins & mucilage15%
- Essential oil & organic acids10%
Uses
- Ornamental: the candle-like yellow flower spikes of summer–autumn are striking, so the plant is grown in borders, gardens and parks.
- Antifungal medicine: crushed fresh leaves are applied to the skin to treat fungal infections, especially ringworm — a widespread folk use thanks to chrysophanic acid.
- Laxative & cooling: the leaves and seeds are used as a mild purgative and cooling remedy in traditional medicine (dosage must be treated with care).
- Food: in some countries the young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
- Ecology & caution: an introduced species naturalised in many tropical areas; the plant's anthraquinones can cause a strong purgative effect if overdosed.
Properties
- Form
- Herb to shrub with evenly pinnate leaves and candle-like yellow flowers
- Hallmark
- Leaves fold at night; pod winged on both sides
- Products
- Ornamental, medicine (antifungal, laxative), young leaves edible
- Safety
- Anthraquinones strongly purgative — avoid prolonged use; caution in pregnancy/children
Habitat & conservation
Senna alata prefers full sun and a hot, humid climate, growing on wasteland, roadsides, field margins, grassy places and forest edges from lowland up to about 1200 m, often as thickets near water. Native to Mexico and the Neotropics, it has been introduced and naturalised throughout the tropics of Asia, Africa and the Pacific islands.
Conservation
Senna alata has a wide and expanding tropical distribution; it has not been assessed by the IUCN and is therefore listed as Not Evaluated (NE). In many places it is a naturalised introduced species. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae, family Fabaceae, genus Senna. Note: the plant contains strongly purgative anthraquinones.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Senna alata (L.) Roxb. — Kew Science, 2026
- 2GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Senna alata (L.) Roxb. — GBIF, 2026
- 3Senna alata (candle bush) — description, distribution, medicinal and ornamental uses — English Wikipedia, 2026
- 4Muồng trâu — đặc điểm, phân bố, công dụng (trị lác đồng tiền) — Vietnamese Wikipedia, 2026
- 5翅荚决明 Senna alata — 形態、分布與用途 — Chinese Wikipedia, 2026
- 6Nguồn ảnh: David E Mead (CC0); Judgefloro (CC0) — Wikimedia Commons,
- 7Nguồn ảnh: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên (CC BY-SA 3.0); Filo gèn' & Arn (CC BY-SA 4.0); Carol VanHook (CC BY-SA 2.0); Forest and Kim Starr (CC BY 3.0 US) — Wikimedia Commons,