VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Cassia fasciculata | Showy Partridgepea 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Showy partridgepea seeds are a valuable food for northern bobwhite in
the Southeast [21,24,34].  Wild legumes, including showy partridgepea,
were found to be the most important fall and winter foods of northern
bobwhite in the Alabama Piedmont forests of slash pine (Pinus elliotii),
loblolly pine (P. taeda), and shortleaf pine (P. echinata) [34].  Seeds
of this legume are also eaten by the greater and lesser prairie-chicken,
ring-necked pheasant, mallard, brown thrasher, cotton rat, and field
mouse [15,29].  The seeds have been found in the food caches of Lousiana
pocket gopher [15].

A cathartic substance is present in the leaves and seeds of showy
partridgepea.  The substance is effective either in fresh plant material
or in dry hay [19,39].  Domestic livestock will eat showy partridgepea
leaves.  However, if large quantities are consumed, the animal may be
stressed and die.  Deer can eat it without being poisoned [5,39].


PALATABILITY : 
Showy partridgepea leaves and seeds are presumably palatable to some
wildlife species and livestock.


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Showy partridgepea seeds are high in phosphorus content and protein
value, and low in crude fiber and lignin.  Digestibility of legumes is
generally high [31].


COVER VALUE : 
Showy partridgepea often grows in dense stands, producing litter and
plant stalks that furnish cover for upland gamebirds, small mammals,
small nongame birds, and waterfowl [15,39].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Showy partridgepea is considered an excellent species for planting on
disturbed areas for erosion control and improving soil fertility.  It
establishes rapidly, fixes nitrogen, reseeds, and slowly decreases as
other species in the seeding mix begin to dominate the site [8,33].  In
one study, showy partridgepea had a nitrogen-fixing potential of 25.9 to
87.0 micro-moles of acetylene daily per plant.  It had the fastest
growth rate and the greatest nitrogen-fixing potential of the five
leguminous species studied.  Nitrogen fixation was greatest during the
flowering stage [6].

Seeds of showy partridgepea are readily available from commercial seed
sources [39].  It has been seeded on soil-lignite overburden, and in the
post oak (Quercus stellata) savannah of Texas, where it grew rapidly and
had the greatest aerial cover and aboveground biomass of all seeded
forbs during the first growing season.  It slowly gave way to developing
perennials over a period of 3 to 4 years [33].  To prevent weed
establishment and control soil erosion along county roadsides in Iowa,
showy partridgepea is often included in the seed mix with other forbs
and grasses [11].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Showy partridgepea is commonly grown as an ornamental [39].  In Georgia
and Florida it is considered an important honey plant, often occurring
where few other honey plants are found.  Nectar is not available in the
flowers of showy partridgepea but is supplied by the petiolar glands
[15,39].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Although showy partridgepea foliage is nutritious, it can be poisonous
and should be considered potentially dangerous to cattle (see Importance
to Livestock and Wildlife) [16].

Related categories for Species: Cassia fasciculata | Showy Partridgepea