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Senna alexandrina

Senna alexandrina

9.8
A plant with yellow flowers whose dried leaves make a laxative tea
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : sena alexandrina
  • The dried leaves of Senna alexandrina are traditionally used to relieve constipation.

Examples

  • Many herbal remedies list Senna alexandrina as an active ingredient for its laxative effect.

  • Prior to brewing the tea, she checked that the Senna alexandrina leaves were prepared correctly.

  • The herbalist recommended Senna alexandrina for digestive issues.

  • Have you ever tried Senna alexandrina as a natural laxative?

  • Many herbal remedies list Senna alexandrina as an active ingredient for its laxative effect.

  • The dried leaves of Senna alexandrina are traditionally used to relieve constipation.

  • The herbalist recommended Senna alexandrina for digestive issues.

Synonyms

tinnevelly senna
vsSenna alexandrina
  • UK
9.9

A small bush with yellow flowers whose dried leaves make you go to the toilet

is the same plant but given a different common or scientific label
true senna
vsSenna alexandrina
  • Specialized
8.0

A shrub with yellow flowers whose dried leaves help people with constipation

is about the same plant but sometimes classified under a different genus
Alexandrian senna
vsSenna alexandrina
  • Specialized
8.8

A shrub whose dried leaves people use as a laxative

is the same species but sometimes classified under a different genus
Alexandria senna
vsSenna alexandrina
  • Specialized
9.3

A tall shrub with yellow flowers and leaves that people dry and use as a laxative

has tawny flowers rather than the plain yellow ones
Indian senna
vsSenna alexandrina
  • Indian
8.4

A shrub with yellow flowers whose dried leaves are used to treat constipation

focuses on raceme flower clusters rather than unspecified arrangement
Cassia augustifolia
vsSenna alexandrina
  • Specialized
9.9

A shrub with yellow flowers whose dried leaves people use as a natural laxative

is the same plant but sometimes placed in a different botanical genus
Cassia acutifolia
vsSenna alexandrina
  • Specialized
9.9

A shrub with yellow flowers whose dried leaves are a natural laxative

is the same plant type but is noted by a distinct native region

Surface Forms

Morphology

senna + alexandrina

The form is a literal botanical binomial (genus + specific epithet), so a learner who knows 'senna' would reasonably infer this refers to a particular kind of senna. However the second element is a Latinized epithet (alexandrina) and the phrase encodes a taxonomic name and specialized medicinal information that is not fully predictable from the parts, so comprehension is only partial for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Senna alexandrina, with Senna and alexandrina pointing to the plant and its link to Alexandria, comes from a shrub whose dried leaves long ago were brewed as a strong 'laxative' tea that helped people empty their bowels. So, the name now brings to mind a plant used 'to relieve constipation'.