Golden Sower Tree, Amaltaas (Cassia fistula) : Morphology, Ethnobotanical uses.

Cassia fistula

Also known as "The Golden-shower tree" and amaltās (अमलतास) in Hindi Language.

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Cassia
Species:	C. fistula

New leaflets copper brown in colour, drooping. Leafless when flowers, Flowers fragrant, golden yellow, drooping in long clusters. Dark brown fruit long and cylindrical resembling drumstick.

Compound leaf

Propagation Techniques

Soak seeds in acid for 5min, followed by dipping in cowdung slurry for 24hrs.

Bean Pod

                           

Description:

This tree grows to 10 m. tall. Compound leaves made up of oval-pointed leaflets 12 to 28 centimeters long. Multiple bright yellow to orange-yellow flowers hang in clusters about 40 cm. long, although individual flower length is 2 to 4 cm. This tree produces a dark brown bean-pod 30-60 cm long filled with a sticky pulp and 40-100 hard brown seeds. Unlike the related rainbow shower tree, C. fistula sheds its leaves around the time it flowers in March.

   

MEDICINAL USES

There are many medicinal uses for C. fistula known from Asia. The flesh of the fruit is used as a laxative, while the bark can be used to treat skin infections. In India the strongly scented pulp is sometimes added to tobacco and smoked.

USES IN INDIA.

Bark extensively used for tanning and dyeing. Beautiful yellow cascading flower clusters. Also used for pooja, particularly during the Vishu festival in Kerala.

By - Ashutosh Lohani.

Photo credits - Alok Gupta