Cassia fistula L.

Cassia fistula L.

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Division    : Angiospermae 
Class       : Dicotyledons
Subclass    : Polypetalae
Series      : Calyciflora
Order       : Fabales
Family      : Fabaceae 
Genus       : Cassia
Species     : fistula

Common Name:

Golden shower, Purging cassia, Indian laburnum, Pudding-pipe tree.

General Information:

Cassia fistula is a flowering plant in the subfamily, Caesalpinioideae of the legume family, Fabaceae. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and adjacent regions of Southeast Asia. It ranges from eastward throughout India to Myanmar and Thailand and south to Sri Lanka and southern Pakistan. It is a popular ornamental plant and is also used in herbal medicine. It is both the national tree and national flower of Thailand. It is the state flower of Kerala in India. The golden shower tree is a medium-sized tree, growing to 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall with fast growth. The leaves are deciduous, 15–60 cm (6–24 in) long, and pinnate with three to eight pairs of leaflets, each leaflet 7–21 cm (3–8 in) long and 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) broad. The flowers are produced in pendulous racemes 20–40 cm (8–16 in) long, each flower 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) diameter with five yellow petals of equal size and shape. The fruit is a legume, 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long and 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1.0 in) broad, with a pungent odor and containing several seeds. The tree has strong and very durable wood.

Economic Importance:

  • In India, flowers of the golden shower tree are sometimes eaten by people. The leaves have also been used to supplement the diets of cattle, sheep, and goats fed with low-quality forages.
  • In Ayurvedic medicine, the golden shower tree is known as aragvadha, meaning “disease killer”.
  • The fruit pulp is considered a purgative,and self-medication or any use without medical supervision is strongly advised against in Ayurvedic texts.
  • Though it has been used in herbalism for millennia, little research has been conducted in modern times, although it is an ingredient in some mass-produced herbal laxatives. When used as such, it is known as “cassia pods”.