It is a shrub with pinnate leaves and bright golden yellow flowers in groups of two to five and long, narrow seed pods.

[4][2][5] Rainforest senna was first formally described in 1863 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Cassia acclinis in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.

[8][9] Senna acclinis is found in near-coastal areas of New South Wales and Queensland, growing in or on the edges of subtropical and dry rainforests.

[11] Senna acclinis is known to be a pollination plant for several insect species, including native bees[12] and the jack-jumper ant Myrmecia nigrocincta, which has been recorded several times visiting the flowers of S.

[14][15] The main threats to S. acclinis are clearance of habitat for development, introduced and invasive species of weeds, timber harvesting activities, and accidental removal during weed-control programs.