Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Golden Shower Tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Golden Shower Tree (Amaltas) | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 C. fistula flowers
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cassia fistula L. |
||||||||||||||||||
| Synonyms | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Bactyrilobium fistula Willd. |
- "Drumstick tree" can also refer to Moringa oleifera.
The Golden Shower Tree or Indian laburnum Cassia fistula is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka.
It is a medium-sized tree growing to 10-20 m tall with fast growth. The leaves are deciduous or semi-evergreen, 15-60 cm long, pinnate with 3-8 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet 7-21 cm long and 4-9 cm broad. The flowers are produced in pendulous racemes 20-40 cm long, each flower 4-7 cm diameter with five yellow petals of equal size and shape. The fruit is a legume is 30-60 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm broad, with a pungent odour and containing several seeds. The seeds are poisonous.
It is widely grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. It blooms in the month of May (northern hemisphere) or November (southern); flowering is profuse, with trees being covered with yellow flora, with almost no leaf being seen. Not recommended for dry climates. Growth is best in full sun on well-drained soil; it is drought and salt tolerant, but will be damaged by even short spells of freezing weather. It can be subject to mildew, leaf spot and root diseases. It is known in Spanish speaking countries as caña fistula.
The golden shower tree is the national flower of Thailand and is called Dok Khuen; its yellow leaves symbolize Thai royalty. A 2006 flower festival, the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, is named after the tree; the ratchaphruek is another name for the dok khuen.
The golden shower tree, locally known as kanikkonna is the state flower of the Kerala in India[citation needed]. The flowers are of ritual importance in the Vishu festival. The golden shower tree is known as 'Amaltas' in Hindi and Urdu. A 20 rupees stamp exists with its picture on it in India.
 thumb|The Golden Shower tree |
 Fruit in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
 Flowers in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
 Flower in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
 Dry fruit in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
