Cassia fistula
Posted: January 30th, 2013, 6:46 pm
| Botanical Name | Cassia fistula |
| Common Name | Golden Shower tree, Amaltas, Indian Laburnum |
| Local Name | املتاس |
| Family | Caesalpiniaceae |
| Genus | Cassia |
| Specie | fistula |
| Synonym | Bactyrilobium fistula Cassia bonplandiana Cassia fistuloides Cassia rhombifolia Cathartocarpus excelsus |
| Growth Habit | Tree |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Flowering Months | April to August |
| Flower Color | Bright Yellow |
| Growing Areas in Pakistan | Throughout the Plain Regions of the country |
| Frost Tender | No |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Soil pH | 6.5 – 7.5 |
| Propagation | By Seed |
| Uses | Fuel, ornamental, fine furniture, agricultural implements, tool handles, support posts, cart wheels and axles, tannin, and medicinal (seed pod pulp as a purgative) |
A medium sized deciduous to semi-evergreen tree, with an open crown. The tree may never appear to be entirely leafless. At maturity, height of the tree will range from 5 to 9 m and have a diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 m. Leaves are compound and are divided into between 4 and 6 pairs of larger (12 by 6cm.) oval shaped leaflets. The leaflets are leathery, long pointed and stalked. The bark is greenish-gray on young trees, changing to a reddish brown with age. On old trees the bark peels off in hard scales.
The flowers which are bright yellow and appear around April and May. They form in large, hanging, pointed bunches and are arranged along a central axis. The seed pod is a long (2 co 3 cm in diameter and 30 or more cm long). Usually smooth, hard and dark brown when ripe; they mature between September and February. The pods break open easily to expose the seed.
The flowers which are bright yellow and appear around April and May. They form in large, hanging, pointed bunches and are arranged along a central axis. The seed pod is a long (2 co 3 cm in diameter and 30 or more cm long). Usually smooth, hard and dark brown when ripe; they mature between September and February. The pods break open easily to expose the seed.
