Golden Shower Tree

:"Cassia fistula" redirects here. This taxon can also refer to other species; see below.:"Canafistula" redirects here. This can also refer to Maloxo ("Albizia inundata").Taxobox
name = Golden Shower Tree


image_width = 270px
image_caption = Golden Shower Tree in bloom
status = NE
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
subclassis = Rosidae
unranked_ordo = Eurosids I
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Caesalpinioideae
tribus = Cassieae
subtribus = Cassiinae
genus = "Cassia"
species = "C. fistula"
binomial = "Cassia fistula"
binomial_authority = L.
synonyms = Many, see textThe Golden Shower Tree ("Cassia fistula" as described by LinnéFact|date=December 2007 , and see below for other names) is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka.__TOC__It is a medium-sized tree growing to 10-20 m tall with fast growth. The leaves are deciduous or semi-evergreen, 15-60 cm long, pinnate with 3-8 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet 7-21 cm long and 4-9 cm broad. The flowers are produced in pendulous racemes 20-40 cm long, each flower 4-7 cm diameter with five yellow petals of equal size and shape. The fruit is a legume is 30-60 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm broad, with a pungent odour and containing several seeds. The seeds are poisonous.

Cultivation and uses

"Cassia fistula" is widely grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. It blooms in late spring (May on the northern, November on the southern hemisphere); flowering is profuse, with trees being covered with yellow flora, with almost no leaf being seen. Not recommended for dry climates. Growth is best in full sun on well-drained soil; it is drought and salt tolerant, but will be damaged by even short spells of freezing weather. It can be subject to mildew, leaf spot and root diseases.

In Ayurvedic medicine, Golden Shower Tree is known as "aragvadha" ("disease killer"). Its fruitpulp is used as mild laxative, against fevers, arthritis, "vatavyadhi" (nervous system diseases), all kinds of "rakta-pitta" (bleeding, such as hematemesis or hemorrhages), as well as cardiac conditions and stomach problems such as acid reflux. The root is considered a very strong purgative, and self-medication or any use without medical supervision is strongly advised against in Ayurvedic texts.

Though its use in herbalism is attested to since millennia, there has been rather little research in modern times. While the purgative action is probably due to abundant 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone and derivates thereof, whether the reputed nervous system (anti-"vatavyadhi") effects are real and if, what causes them, is not known. While many Fabaceae are a source of potent entheogens and other psychoactive compounds (see e.g. tryptamines), such plants are rarely found among the Caesalpinioideae.

The golden shower tree is the national flower of Thailand; its yellow leaves symbolize Thai royalty. A 2006-2007 flower festival, the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, was named after the tree, which is most often called "dok khuen" or "ratchaphruek" in ThailandMMPND (2005)] .

The golden shower tree is the state flower of Kerala in India. The flowers are of ritual importance in the Vishu festival of "Kerala" state of India, and the tree was depicted on a 20 Indian rupees stamp. "C. fistula" is also featured on a 2003 joint Canadian-Thai design for a 48 cent stamp, part of a series featuring national emblems.

Names and taxonomy

Being so conspicuous and widely planted, this tree has a number of common names. In English, it is usually known as Golden Shower Tree or Golden Shower Cassia. Other, less unambiguous names include Indian laburnum, "golden shower" or "drumstick tree". It is known in Spanish-speaking countries as "caña fistula".

Names from its native range and surrounding regions include:
* Chinese: "ā bó lè" (阿勃勒: Taiwan), "là cháng shù" ("sausage tree", 腊肠树)
* Hindi: "bendra lathi" (or "bandarlauri"), "dhanbaher" (or "dhanbohar"), "girimaloah"
* Hindi and Urdu: "amaltās" (अमलतास)
* Japanese: "nanban saikachi" (ナンバン サイカチ)
* Lao: "khoun"
* Marathi: "bahava" (बहावा)
* Malayalam: "kanikkonna" (or "kani konna" കണിക്കൊന്ന: Kerala), "Vishu konna"(വിഷുക്കൊന്ന)
* Meitei (Manipuri): "chahui"
* Nepali: "amaltash", "rajbriksya"
* Sanskrit: "aragvadha", "chaturangula", "kritamala", "suvarnaka"
* Sinhalese: "aehaela-gaha" (or "ahalla-gass"), "ekela"
* Tamil: "konrai" (கொன்ற)
* Thai: "chaiyaphruek" (ชัยพฤกษ์), "dok khuen" (ดอกแคน), "khun" (คูน), "koun", "rachapruek" (ราชพฤกษ์)

Gallery

Taxonomy

The Golden Shower Tree was named "Cassia fistula" by Carl Linnaeus. The name was erroneously used by John Patrick Micklethwait Brenan for the Kenyan Shower Cassia, correctly known as "C. afrofistula". Similarly, Francisco Manuel Blanco misapplied Linnaeus's name to the Apple-blossom Cassia subspecies "C. javanica" ssp. "javanica".ILDIS (2005)]

In addition, numerous synonyms of "C. fistula" exist:
* "Bactyrilobium fistula" Willd.
* "Cassia bonplandiana" DC.
* "Cassia excelsa" Kunth:"Cassia excelsa" Schrad. is a synonym of "Senna spectabilis" var. "excelsa"
* "Cassia fistuloides" Collad.
* "Cassia rhombifolia" Roxb.
* "Cathartocarpus excelsus" G.Don
* "Cathartocarpus fistula" Pers.
* "Cathartocarpus fistuloides" (Collad.) G.Don
* "Cathartocarpus rhombifolius" G.Don"Cassia fistulata" is a "lapsus".

Footnotes

References

* (2005): [http://www.ildis.org/ Genus "Cassia"] . Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2007-DEC-20.
* (2005): [http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Cassia.html "Cassia fistula" L.] . Version of 12/01/2005. Retrieved 2007-DEC-20.
* (2008): [http://www.kerenvis.nic.in/isbeid/kerala-symbols.htm Kerala Symbols] .