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Cassia fistula L.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Golden Shower Tree, Golden Shower, Shower Of Gold, Indian Laburnum, Purging Cassia, Rajah Kayu, Pudding Pipe Tree, Golden Rain Tree, Monkey-pod Tree, Bereksa, Kasia Sena, 猪肠豆, 阿勃勒, 腊肠树 |
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Name
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Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular, Open |
| Maximum Height | 10 m to 18 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India, Sri Lanka |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Medium-sized tree with irregular crown. Deciduous, tree sheds leaves every 8 - 10 months, especially when flowering. |
| Foliage | Leaves pinnately-compound, consisting of 3 - 8 pairs of opposite leaftlets. |
| Flowers | Bright yellow, fragrant, produced in long pendulous clusters, 30 - 50 cm in length, attractive to insects and butterflies. |
| Fruits | Long cylindrical pods (40-60cm), black and indehiscent when mature. Seeds covered with edible, blackish-brown, pungent-smelling, sticky sweet pulp. |
| Associated Fauna | Orange Emigrant (Catopsilia scylla cornelia); Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe) |
| Cultivation | Easy to grow. Propgate by seeds or marcotting of large branches. Prefers well-drained soil but tolerates most soil conditions. Long periods of drought induce flowering. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Seeds) Food (Herb and Spice) [Others]: Medicinal: Nearly all parts of the plant have medicinal properties, used to treat a variety of ailments ranging from pimples, burns, wounds and colds to cancer. Seed pods and leaves used to treat diabetes and liver problems. Pulp from seed pod well-known for its mild laxative properties and used to relieve constipation. Timber: Strong wood used to make cabinets, wheels, posts, mortars and firewood. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day) |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
| Landscape Uses | Roadside Tree / Palm |
| Thematic Landscaping | Golden Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| SGMP Treatment |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird Attracting, Caterpillar Food Plant, Butterfly Food Plant |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Diseases | Mildew, leaf spot, root rot diseases. |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Marcotting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Deciduous |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Even-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Area | Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 ), Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Tree - Open Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
| Bark Colour(s) | Grey |
| Mature Bark Texture | Smooth |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Blue |
| Fruit Type 1 | Indehiscent Dry Fruit |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 1494 |
| Species ID | 2787 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
