Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa

(Roxb.) K. Larsen

Pink cassia

Fabaceae Edible: Leaves 932 iNaturalist observations

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arnonaceae

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arnonaceae

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arnonaceae

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Cassia javanica, also known as Java cassia, pink shower, apple blossom tree, rainbow shower tree, and Palawan cherry, is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae. Its origin is in Southeast Asia, but it has been extensively grown in tropical areas worldwide as a garden tree owing to its beautiful crimson and pink flower bunches.

Description

A large tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 10-20 m tall but can be taller. The leaves are 15-30 cm long. They are compound with 5-13 pairs of leaflets. These are 3-10 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The flower groups are 4-10 cm long. The flowers are pink. The fruit is a pod 30-70 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. It is black.

Edible Uses

The leaves are an edible portion of this plant.

Medicinal Uses

It is used medicinally as a substitute to Cassia fistula for treating constipation, colic, chlorosis and urinary disorders. Its leaves are effective against herpes simplex and the bark of C. javanica is one of the ingredients in ayurvedic and other traditional medicine antidiabetic formulations. C. javanica yields a lightweight to heavy hardwood that is used for general construction, furniture and cabinet making. The bark of C. javanica is used for tanning in the leather processing industry.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It needs humus-rich, moist soils. It is damaged by drought and frost. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, East Africa, Ghana, Himalayas, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed need treatment to break the hard seed coat before planting.

Notes

There are 100 Cassia species. This group has been revised to a smaller more consistent group. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Synonyms

Cassia javanica var. indochinensis Gagnep. Cassia nodosa Roxb.

Also Known As

Bereksa, Bo-cap huong, Dendulang merah, Kala pruk, Mai-lum-awn, Ngok, Ngu, Ngu-sat, Ngu-thien, Saha, Sebusok

References (7)

Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 41 (As Cassia nodosa)
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 221 (As Cassia nodosa)
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 483 (As Cassia nodosa)
Fl. ind. ed. 1832, 2:336. 1832 (As Cassia nodosa)
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFlora.org (As Cassia nodosa)

Show all 7 references

Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 61 (As Cassia nodosa)
Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 212 (As Cassia nodosa)