| Etymology | Genus | From the name Kasia, named by an ancient Greek botanist, Pedanius Dioscorides |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Tube-like, in reference to its fruits | |
| Family | Fabaceae | |
| Synonyms | - | |
| Common Names | Golden Shower | |
| Status | Exotic: Casual | |
| Form | Tree | |
| Native Distribution | Tropical Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar | |
Diagnostics:
The foliage is rather sparse and has a mild droopy habit. The paripinnate leaves are the most distinctive. The leaflets are ovate, large and oppositely arranged.
Interesting Facts:
Cassia fistula has an open crown, and deciduous. Not something of a favourite for a shade tree but it is magnificent for its flowering. True to its common name, the tree produces a shower of golden-yellow flowers that hangs downs from the branches. The fruits are cylindrical and extremely elongated and turn brown when ripe, but do not split. The insides of the fruit contain a brown sticky pulp that is a known remedy for constipation (Rao & Wee, 1989).
Form of the tree. Note the fruits hanging down.
The flowers come in a shower of gold.
Elongated fruits suspended from the tree.
Pinnate leaves. Each leaflet is large and probably largest of the cassia here.
A smashed fruit, revealing the seeds covered with brown sticky pulp.
References
Rao, AN & WC Wee (1989) Singapore Trees. Singapore Institute of Biology, Singapore. 357 pp.Author: Siyang
Posted: 2012-10-06 / Modified: 2015-01-11
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