Round-leafed cassia

Round-leafed cassia
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NOTE: The information in this Agnote must be read in conjunction with Introduction to selecting and using pastures in NSW, which covers information on areas of adaptation, sources of variability, species mixtures, and important issues related to animal health and the conservation of native vegetation.

Pasture type and use	Short-lived perennial tropical legume, growing in the warm season. Main production is in summer. Grazing, but has been used for hay and silage.
Area of adaptation	Far North Coast, North West Slopes.
Min. average annual rainfall	Far North Coast: 800–1000 mm. North West Slopes: 650–700 mm.
Advantages	Good drought tolerance. Tolerant of acid soils with high levels of exchangeable aluminium. Can be established in frosty areas. High seeder and rapid coloniser with seed spread by livestock.
Disadvantages	Unpalatable during good summer growth periods; readily grazed from late summer until winter. Tendency for stock to overgraze companion grasses under long-duration grazing. Intolerant of waterlogging. Horses do not eat Wynn cassia. Weaner cattle often reluctant to eat Wynn cassia. Wynn cassia can be a major weed of peanut crops and a weed of some pulse crops.
Soil requirements	Light-textured well-drained soils. Not suited to hard-setting soils.
Varieties	Wynn
Sowing rates:	as only species - 1–1.5 kg/ha in mixtures - 0.5–1.5 kg/ha
Sowing time	A high level of hard seed allows sowing between September and early March.
Companion species	Compatible in mixtures with adapted species.
Inoculation	Group M
Major nutrient deficiencies	Phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and molybdenum.
Main insect pests	Relatively free from pests.
Main diseases	Relatively free from disease.
Management	In first season, allow seed-set for future plant recruitment, as plants die after about 16–18 months. Hard short-duration grazing suits Wynn. Do not allow selective continuous heavy grazing, which can lead to Wynn cassia dominance.
Livestock disorders of particular note	Some cassia spp. (e.g. C. obtusifolia and C. occidentalis) have been associated with poisoning in ruminants and horses — both leaves and seeds were toxic, and muscle damage was the main effect. So far there have been no problems reported for C. rotundifolia.
Additional tips	If stock water is low in sodium, a salt supplement can be beneficial to livestock grazing Wynn cassia. Phosphorus and sulfur maintenance requirement important for quality and animal intake.
Further information	Agnote 1-102 Wynn round-leafed cassia.

Acknowledgments

Advice on livestock health disorders was provided by Dr Chris Bourke, Principal Research Scientist, NSW Agriculture, Orange. His contribution is gratefully acknowledged.

Photo: Warren McDonald, Former Technical Specialist (Pastures), NSW Agriculture, Tamworth