Cassia fistula L.
Family
Leguminosae
Synonyms
None
Vernacular Names
|
Malaysia |
Bereksa, tengguli, rajah kayu. |
|
English |
Golden shower, Indian laburnum. |
|
Indonesia |
Trengguli (Javanese), bobondelan (Sundanese), klobop (Madurese). |
|
Philippines |
Fistula (Tagalog, Cebu Bisaya), kana-pistula (Tagalog), bitsula (Cebu Bisaya). |
|
Cambodia |
Reach, reach speu, reach chhpoeus. |
|
Laos |
Khoun (General). |
|
Thailand |
Khuun (Central, Northern), lom laeng (Northern), ratchaphruek (Central). |
|
Vietnam |
C[aa]y b[of] c[aj]p n[uw][ows]c, mu[oof]ng ho[af]ng y[ees]n. |
|
French |
Caneficier. |
Geographical Distributions
Cassia fistula is widespread in the tropics; often cultivated as an ornament in Java, planted as a medicinal or ornamental plant in the Philippines, and cultivated throughout New Guinea.
Description
Cassia fistula is a small to medium-sized tree, measures 10-15 m tall or sometimes more, deciduous or semi-deciduous. It is with spreading branches while the young twigs are smooth.
The leaves are with 3-7 pairs of leaflets, with petiole 5-8 cm long, terete, with ovate-oblong leaflets, measuring 7-12 cm x 4-8 cm, subcoriaceous, broadly wedge-shaped at base, acute at apex, with shiny upper surface and smooth when mature.
The inflorescence is an axillary, pendulous, lax raceme, measures 20-40(-60) cm long and many-flowered. The flowers are fragrant, with sepals 7-10 mm long, with broadly ovate petals and golden-yellow. There are 10 stamens where 3 of them are with filaments 3-4 cm long, while the other 4 are shorter with filaments 6-10 mm long and the last 3 are reduced with filaments 3-4 mm long . The anthers are minute.
The fruit is 20-60 cm long, pendent, terete, measures 1.5-2 cm in diametre, black, hairless and indehiscent. The seeds are numerous, separated by papery septa and embedded in black glutinous pulp.
Ecology / Cultivation
Cassia fistula occurs in Java in light forests below 400 m altitude, and in the Philippines in open grasslands at low and medium altitudes. It seems to favour calcareous and red, volcanic soils, but in Thailand, it is also found on sandy and loamy soils.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(1): Medicinal and poisonous plants 1.
