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Spiny Senna, Senna armata

Spiny Senna, Senna Armata
Fabaceae
Pinyon Wash, 1 April 2009

You may find yourself going past or through.an otherwise unremarkable stretch on desert plants when all of a sudden the bright yellow blossoms of a shrub, maybe 3 or 4 feet tall and perhaps a little wider, will catch your eye. You may at first take it for a Brittlebush, except that the yellow is more of a golden amber yellow than Brittlebush, which is a member of the Sunflower Family, and the flowers are more numerous.

Spiny Senna, Senna Armata
Fabaceae
Pinyon Wash, 1 April 2009

The scientific name for the Spiny Senna is Senna armata, which suggests arms or armor. Sure enough, the Spiny Senna is armed with spines, although they are soft spines and bend to the touch.

Good places to look for them? Try big flat areas with deep sand supporting the growth of such common plants of desert scrub as Creosote Bush, Cheese Bush, and cactus. In the southern part of Anza-Borrego, Indian Gorge/Indian Canyon is a good place. You will find Spiny Senna dotting the landscape from here to Canebrake.

 Spiny Senna, Senna Armata
Fabaceae
Pinyon Wash, 1 April 2009

In the east central part of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Mescal Bajada area off Highway 78 is always good, especially around the entrances to Mine Wash and Pinyon Wash. Don't be surprised if you see Spiny Senna along Borrego Valley Road either.

Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association
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