Scientific Name: Cassia fistula L.

Synonyms: Bactyrilobium fistula Willd, Cassia bonplandiana DC.

Unique ID: 41

Systematic Position

Class: Dicotyledonae

Sub Class: Polypetalae                         

Series: Calyciflorae

Order: Rosales

Family: Fabaceae

Common Names

English – Pudding-pipe tree, The Indian Laburnum

Malayalam – കണിക്കൊന്ന

Tamil – Konnei, Sarakkonnai

Hindi – Swarn-pushpi

Description: A medium – large sized deciduous tree found all over the state ascending up to 2000 ft. Leaves compound, leaflets come in 5 pairs, opposite, oblong-broadly obovate, glabrous above, pubescent below, base subacutre, margin entire, apex gradually tapering. Flowers in terminal racemes, pedicel elongated. Petals 5, yellow, stamens 10, carpel one. Pod oblong, 1 – 2 ft long, cylindrical, smooth. Seeds many,immersed in a dark brown pulp. During leaf less period flower occur covering all branches

Habitat: Humid valley forests, open forests, hill slopes, open areas; Found growing wild on the hills to 1400 m in dry deciduous forests. Peninsular India.

Distribution:  Throughout India, except Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh.

Uses: Wood used as fuel wood. The bark is made into a paste with turmeric powder and cumin and the juice is extracted and used to cure nausea and vomiting. The bark also yields an orange dye. Extensive overharvest of bark for trade took place in the past, and now collection of bark is banned.

The wood is very hard, especially used for agricultural implements. Commonly planted in gardens and along roads for ornamental purpose. The fruit pulp is a good laxative. The wood is mixed in preparations to cure dysentery.

Flowers and flower buds are eaten cooked. The pulp of the ripe pod is eaten fresh, also use as medicine to cure mouth ulcers. The pulp is considered a powerful purgative.