true senna n 1: erect shrub having racemes of tawny yellow flowers; the dried leaves are used medicinally as a cathartic; sometimes placed in genus Cassia [syn: {Alexandria senna}, {Alexandrian senna}, {true senna}, {tinnevelly senna}, {Indian senna}, {Senna alexandrina}, {Cassia acutifolia}, {Cassia augustifolia}]