Coues' Cassia, Senna covesii

Photo of a Coues' Senna, a subshrub less than two feet tall

At first glance, you may spot a small shrub with golden yellow flowers the same color as the flowers of the Spiny Senna. The difference will be that this plant isn't as tall as the Spiny Senna (some botanists call it a subshrub) and it isn't as abundant. Take another look. Possibly you have found a Coues' Cassia.

Closeup photo of the golden yellow flowers of Coues' Cassia Like the Spiny Senna, Coues' Cassia is a Fabacease, a member of the Pea Family. As with the Spiny Senna, if you give it a closeup look you will probably notice bean-like fruits on the stems.

Coues' Cassia is also known as Coves's Cassia. The scientific name is Senna covesii.The plant was named for the noted ornithologist Elliott Coues, 1842-99, author of Birds of the Colorado Valley.

Besides its staure, the plant is noticeably white-hairy and abundant the leaves occur in pairs and are rounded at the tips and smooth around the edges.

The California Native Plant Society has Coues' Cassia on its list of Rare and Endangered Plants. The San Diego Museum of Natural History considers it a San Diego plant of unusual interest.

Look for Coues' Cassia along the Highway 78 corridor from Sentenac Cienega to Borrego Mountain..