Wednesday's Wildflower: Bahama Senna
Senna mexicana var. chapmanii Submitted by Beryn Harty, Miami-Dade Chapter, resident of the lower Florida Keys Photo by Beryn Harty in a refuge area of Lower Florida Keys Bahama Senna is a small shrub, or sprawling groundcover with showy yellow flowers that bloom year-round in its natural, southern range. The bright yellow, five petal flowers, about the size of a US quarter, bloom the heaviest in the fall and winter. Photo by Beryn Harty in a refuge area of Lower Florida Keys Bahama Senna is the host plant for Cloudless Sulphur, Orange Barred Sulphur, and Sleepy Orange Butterflies. Its preferred habitat is pine rocklands and rockland hammock edges in moist, well-drained limestone soils, typically in full sun to light shade. While listed as threatened in the state of Florida, it is easy to find and grow, stocked by many native nurseries, and can be grown from seed. Family Name: Fabaceae Genus/Species: Senna mexicana var...