Cassia fistula

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Redirect|Canafistula|text=This can also refer to ''Pseudalbizzia inundata'' (Maloxo)}} {{Speciesbox | image = Golden shower tree.jpg | image_caption = Golden shower tree in bloom | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) |author2=IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |year=2018 |title=''Cassia fistula'' |article-number=e.T136142327A136142329 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T136142327A136142329.en}}</ref> | taxon = Cassia fistula | authority = L. | synonyms = {{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; | *''Bactyrilobium fistula'' Willd. *''Cassia bonplandiana'' DC. *''Cassia excelsa'' Kunth *''Cassia fistuloides'' Collad. *''Cassia rhombifolia'' Roxb. *''Cathartocarpus excelsus'' G.Don *''Cathartocarpus fistula'' Pers. *''Cathartocarpus fistuloides'' (Collad.) G.Don *''Cathartocarpus rhombifolius'' G.Don }} | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/ild-1022 |title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species |access-date=June 19, 2014}}</ref> }} alt=Blossomed golden shower tree in Kerala|thumb|Blossomed golden shower tree '''''Cassia fistula''''', also known as '''golden shower''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=CAFI3|taxon=Cassia fistula|access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> '''purging cassia''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }}</ref> '''Indian laburnum''',<ref>{{GRIN | access-date = April 2, 2019}}</ref> '''kani konna''',<ref name="kani-konna">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/early-konna-blooms-in-kochi-set-off-alarm-bells/article26262332.ece|date=February 14, 2019|title=Early konna blooms in Kochi set off alarm bells}}</ref> or '''pudding-pipe tree''',<ref name="Saunders 1891">U. S. Department of Agriculture, William Saunders; Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture; Washington D. C.; June 5, 1891</ref> is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and adjacent regions of Southeast Asia. It is the official state flower of Kerala state and Delhi UT in India,<ref name="kani-konna"/> as well as the national tree and flower of Thailand.<ref name="ASEANnationalflowers">{{Cite web |title=ASEAN National Flowers |publisher=Association of Southeast Asian Nations |url=http://www.asean.org/18204.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120052549/http://www.asean.org/18204.htm |archive-date=20 January 2012 |df=dmy}}</ref> It is also a popular ornamental plant and is also used in herbal medicine.

==Description== The golden shower tree is a medium-sized tree, growing to {{convert|10|–|20|m|abbr=on}} tall with fast growth. The leaves are deciduous, {{convert|15|–|60|cm|0|abbr=on}} long, and pinnate with three to eight pairs of leaflets, each leaflet {{convert|7|–|21|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4|–|9|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} broad.

The flowers are produced in pendulous racemes {{convert|20|–|40|cm|0|abbr=on}} long, each flower {{convert|4|–|7|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} diameter with five yellow petals of equal size and shape. The fruit is a legume, {{convert|30|–|60|cm|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.5|–|2.5|cm|frac=16|abbr=on}} broad, with a pungent odor and containing several seeds.

The tree has strong and very durable wood, and has been used to construct "Ehela Kanuwa", a site at Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka, which is made of ''C. fistula'' (''ahala, ehela'', or ''aehaela'', ඇහැල in Sinhala<ref>[http://dh-web.org/place.names/bot2sinhala.html#Aehaela sinhala botany website ]</ref>) heartwood. The golden shower tree is not a nitrogen fixer.<ref name="CABIISC">{{cite journal | url=http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/11434 | first1=Marianne Jennifer | last1=Datiles | first2=Pedro | last2=Acevedo-Rodríguez | title=''Cassia fistula'' (Indian laburnum)| journal=Invasive Species Compendium | date=2022 | volume=CABI Compendium | article-number=11434 | publisher=CABI| doi=10.1079/cabicompendium.11434 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Cultivation== ''Cassia fistula'' is widely grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. It blooms in late spring/early summer in hot, dry weather. Flowering is profuse, with trees being covered with yellow flowers, many times with almost no visible leaves. It grows well in dry climates. Growth for this tree is best in full sun on well-drained soil; it is relatively drought-tolerant and slightly salt-tolerant. It will tolerate light brief frost, but can get damaged if the cold persists. It can be subject to mildew or leaf spot, especially during the second half of the growing season. The tree blooms better with pronounced differences between summer and winter temperatures.<ref name="ayer"> {{citation |url = http://www.4to40.com/ayurveda/index.asp?p=Cassia_Fistula&c=Herbs&k=Ahala_Kanuwa |title = Cassia Fistula (aburnum, Purging Fistula, Golden Shower, Amaltas) |publisher = 4 to 40 |work = Ayurveda - Herbs |access-date = 2011-01-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714110438/http://www.4to40.com/ayurveda/index.asp?p=Cassia_Fistula&c=Herbs&k=Ahala_Kanuwa |archive-date = 2011-07-14 }}</ref>

==Pollinators and seed dispersal== Various species of bees and butterflies are known to be pollinators of ''C. fistula'' flowers, especially carpenter bees (''Xylocopa'' sp.).<ref>Murali, KS (1993) Differential reproductive success in Cassia fistula in different habitats—A case of pollinator limitations? In: Current Science (Bangalore), 65 (3). pp. 270-272.</ref> In 1911, Robert Scott Troup conducted an experiment to determine how the seeds of ''C. fistula'' are dispersed. He found that golden jackals feed on the fruits and help in seed dispersal.<ref>Troup, R.S. (1911).Silviculture of Indian Trees. Published under the authority of His Majesty's Secretary of State for India in Council. Oxford Clarendon Press</ref>

==Uses== It is used in Vishu festivals as a traditional trademark in Kerala.

===Food=== 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.<ref>Heuzé V., Thiollet H., Tran G., Hassoun P., Lebas F., 2018. Golden tree (Cassia fistula). Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/325</ref>

===Medical=== In Ayurvedic medicine, the golden shower tree is known as ''aragvadha'', meaning "disease killer". The fruit pulp is considered a purgative,<ref>{{cite book |title=Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice |first=Sebastian |last=Pole |publisher=Singing Dragon |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84819-113-6 |page=129 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yKaVpwB7USYC&q=purgative+aragvadha&pg=PA129}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Materia Medica Of Ayurveda |first=Vaidya |last=Bhagwan Dash |publisher=B. Jain |location=India |year=2002 |isbn= 978-81-7021-493-9|pages=41–42 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-IU3D6Cl3sC&q=purgative+aragvadha&pg=PA41}}</ref> 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".<ref name="Saunders 1891" />

Within developing countries, approximately 80% of populations prefer the usage of traditional medicine to resolve primary medical symptoms.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grover |first1=J.K. |last2=Vats |first2=S Yadev |date=2002 |title=Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=81 |issue=1 |pages=81–100|doi=10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00059-4 |pmid=12020931 }}</ref> The medicines and drugs derived from plants along with other herbal formulations are considered low risk and have less side effects in comparison to modern medicine by many locals especially within the Asian communities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bailey |first1=C. J. |last2=Day |first2=C |date=1989 |title=Traditional plant medicines as treatments for diabetes |journal=Diabetes Care |volume=12 |issue=8 |pages=553–564|doi=10.2337/diacare.12.8.553 |pmid=2673695 }}</ref>

In India, a cathartic made from the pulp is sometimes added to tobacco.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hargreaves|first1=Dorothy|last2=Hargreaves|first2=Bob|title=Tropical Trees of the Pacific|year=1970|publisher=Hargreaves|location=Kailua, Hawaii|page=14}}</ref>

=== Cosmetic === ''Cassia fistula'' flower extract displayed an anti-aging property when introduced to the human skin fibroblast and has a variety of cosmetic and nutritional applications. It displays an ability to cause hypopigmentation and can be applied as a whitening agent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Limtrakul |first1=Pornngarm |last2=Yodkeeree |first2=Supachai |last3=Thippraphan |first3=Pilaiporn |last4=Punfa |first4=Wanisa |last5=Srisomboon |first5=Jatupol |date=3 December 2016 |title=Anti-aging and tyrosinase inhibition effects of Cassia fistula flower butanolic extract |journal=BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |volume=16|issue=1 |page=497 |doi=10.1186/s12906-016-1484-3 |doi-access=free |pmid=27912751 |pmc=5135822 }}</ref>

==Culture== ''Cassia fistula'' is both the national tree and national flower of Thailand – in Thai ''ratchaphruek'' ({{Langx|th|ราชพฤกษ์}}) and the blossoms are commonly referred to as ''dok khun'' ({{Langx|th|ดอกคูน}}).<ref name="ASEANnationalflowers"/> Its yellow flowers symbolize Thai royalty. A 2006–2007 flower festival, the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, was named after the tree. ''Cassia fistula'' is also featured on a 2003 joint Canadian-Thai design for a 48-cent stamp, part of a series featuring national emblems.<ref name="ayer"/>

The Indian laburnum is the state flower of Kerala. The flowers are of ritual importance in preparation of Kani during the Vishu festival of Kerala<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.kerenvis.nic.in/Database/Goldenshower_8812.aspx |title= State Flower Golden shower |publisher= ENVIS Hub: Kerala |access-date= 25 May 2022}}</ref> which falls in the month of April. The tree has been depicted on a 20-rupee stamp.

The tree is frequently cultivated in Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka where the Sinhala name is ''Ehela'', ඇහැල.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dh-web.org/place.names/bot2sinhala.html#Aehaela|title = Botany Plant-names → Sinhala Plant names උද්භිද නම් → සිංහල නම්}}</ref> The tree is also the provincial tree of the North Central Province of Sri Lanka.

In Laos, its blooming flowers known locally as ''dok khoun'' are associated with the Lao New Year. People use the flowers as offerings at the temple, and also hang them in their homes for the New Year in belief that the flowers will bring happiness and good luck to the households.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGnxy9QzmjQ Lao NEWS on LNTV: When the golden shower trees, known as Dok Khoun in Laos blossom.17/4/2014]</ref>

The laburnum is the school tree of National Taiwan Normal University, thought to be because of the seed pods' similarity to the whips used by teachers in times past.<ref>{{Cite web |title=School tree |url=http://archives.lib.ntnu.edu.tw/c2/c2_4_eng.jsp |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=NTNU University Archives}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> File:Cassia fistula at Leisure Valley Chandigarh.jpg|alt=Cassia fistula at Leisure Valley, Chandigarh|In Chandigarh, India File:Golden shower full bloom.jpg|Tree at full bloom File:Cassia fistula-flower-detail.jpg|Flower detail File:Cassia.jpg|Flower in Chandigarh, India File:Pollen grains of Cassia fistula.jpg|Pollen grains File:Golden Shower Seeds.jpg|Seeds File:Amaltas (Cassia fistula) leaves in Hyderabad, AP W 289.jpg|Leaves in Hyderabad, India File:(MHNT) Cassia fistula MHNT.bot.2007.26.54.jpg|Fruit File:Tree Bark of Cassia fistula.jpg|Bark in Hong Kong </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{aut|Database on state of environment, Kerala}} (2008): [https://web.archive.org/web/20080307101819/http://www.kerenvis.nic.in/isbeid/kerala-symbols.htm Kerala Symbols] (archived 7 March 2008)

fistula Category:Flora of tropical Asia Category:Medicinal plants of Asia Category:National symbols of Thailand Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Trees in Buddhism