Cassia, Golden Shower
A tropical plant. It is native to India. It prefers a rich well drained soil. It needs a protected sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. Plants need a temperature above 16°C for growth. It grows all over India up to 1500 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Also known as:
Ai-kadus, Alash, Ali, Amaltas, Amultas, Anmalthassh, Bahava, Bahawa, Banag, Banar lauri, Bandarlauri, Bangru, Bereska, Bhungadu, Bo-cap nuoc, Cana fistola, Cana pistula, Chaiya-pruek, Dhanbahera, Garmala, Gawkngu, Girimalah, Girmala, Golden rain tree, Golden rain, Guayaba cimarrona, Guolong liang, Honaru, Indian Laburnum, Kakke, Kanikkonna, Ka-zo, Khuun, Kiar, Kirwara, Konnai, Konnei, Koon, Koonna, Lom leng, Mai-lum, Muong hoang yen, Ngu, Ngu-gyi, Ngu-shwe, Ngushwe-ama, Phung-ril, Pohon trangguli, Pudding-pipe tree, Purging Cassia, Pwabet, Rajah kayu, Rajataru, Rajbrikh, Rajbriksh, Rela, Riechpuhs, Sarakkondrai, Shonaru, Sonarkhi pump, Sonalu, Sonaru, Sondali, Sunari, Sundali, Suvarnaka, Trengguli
Synonyms
- 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
Edible Portion
- Leaves, Flowers, Pod pulp, Fruit, Spice
Where does Cassia grow?
Found in: Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Cambodia, Central America, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Singapore, Sikkim, South America, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe
Notes: There are 100 Cassia species. This group has been revised to a smaller more consistent group. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Status: The leaves are eaten in Africa. It is unknown whether they are used in Papua New Guinea.
Growing Cassia, Golden Shower
Cultivation: The plants are grown from seed. The seed need to have the hard seed coat broken. This can be done by boiling them for a few minutes before sowing. It can be cut back and will re-grow.
Edible Uses: The young leaves and flower buds are cooked as a vegetable. The leaves are chopped small before cooking. The flowers are fried. The pulp of the pods is eaten but not the seeds. CAUTION: The pod pulp is a purgative but safe. It is only eaten in small quantities. The pulp is used as an ingredient in spiced Indian tobacco.
Production: It is fairly slow growing. Trees start flowering when 5 years old.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Leaves | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Pod pulp | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Cassia, Golden Shower Photos
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