Cassia javanica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Cassia
Species:
C. javanica
Binomial name
Cassia javanica
Subspecies
  • subsp. agnes (de Wit) K.Larsen
  • subsp. bartonii (F.M.Bailey) K.Larsen
  • subsp. javanica L.
  • subsp. microcalyx (H.S.Irwin & Barneby) K.Larsen
  • subsp. pubiflora (Merr.) K.Larsen
  • subsp. renigera (Wall. ex Benth.) K.Larsen
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Bactyrilobium javanica (L.) Hornem.
    • Cassia agnes (de Wit) Brenan
    • Cassia bacillus Gaertn.
    • Cassia bartonii F.M.Bailey
    • Cassia indochinensis (Gagnep.) V.Singh
    • Cassia javanica var. microcalyx H.S.Irwin & Barneby
    • Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen
    • Cassia megalantha Decne.
    • Cassia nodosa Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.
    • Cassia renigera Wall. ex Benth.
    • Cathartocarpus javanicus (L.) Pers.
    • Cathartocarpus nodosus (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Steud.

Cassia javanica, also known as Java cassia, pink shower, apple blossom tree and rainbow shower tree (Thai: ชัยพฤกษ์), 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.[2]

Description

Detail of flowers and leaves

Cassia javanica is a fast growing, deciduous / semi-deciduous tree which flowers in spring and sheds its leaves in the winter months. It has a straight trunk that reaches heights of 25 - 40m. The leaves are paripinnate with 12 pairs of elliptical leaves. The flowers range in colour from pale pink to crimson with yellow coloured stamens and are found in open clusters. The ground under the tree is covered with a beautiful carpet of pink towards the end of the flowering season. The fruit are housed in long cylindrical dark brown pods. Because of its beauty and suitable size C. javanica is planted as a shade and ornamental tree on streets and in parks.[3] C. javanica is polymorphic and several sub species such as those listed below exist.[4]

Range

Cassia javanica originated in Java and Sumatra.[5] Native range of this species is China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mauritius, the Philippines,[6] United States and Pacific Islands. Today it is also commonly found in other places including Bangladesh, India and the Philippines.[4]

Flowering season

In India, C. javanica flowers in April/May and fruits and sheds its leaves in December. In Thailand, C. javanica flowers between Feb and April.[7] In the Philippines, C. nodosa or C. javanica nodosa flowers between February until the summer season.[6] In East Java, C. javanica flowers between October and December and fruits in the dry season.[4]

Cultural importance

Cassia javanica is one of Thailand's Nine Auspicious Trees and is said to bring good luck, ensure continued high rank and afford victory.[7] Its flower is the provincial flower of Chainat Province, Thailand.

The subspecies native to the Philippines is subspecies pubiflora, which is found only on Luzon in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Ilocos Sur, Rizal, and Zambales; there also were historical records from Metro Manila. The so-called 'Palawan cherry' is not a native of the Philippines and is composed of Cassia grandis, Cassia nodosa subsp. javanica, Cassia nodosa subsp. nodosa, and at least one hybrid of one of those. Though locally called balayong and honored through the Balayong Festival in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, it is most definitely not a true native of Palawan, having been introduced there as a timber tree. As an introduced tree without a local epithet, the locals needed a name for which to market it. Since the wood- pinkish when cut- is very similar to that of the true balayong or Afzelia rhomboidea, the name was given and has since stuck.

Uses

It is used medicinally as a substitute to Cassia fistula for treating constipation, colic, chlorosis and urinary disorders.[8] 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.[9][10] C. javanica yields a lightweight to heavy hardwood that is used for general construction, furniture and cabinet making.[4] The bark of C. javanica is used for tanning in the leather processing industry.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Cassia javanica L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  2. ↑ UFL - Cassia javanica
  3. ↑ Cassia Javanica L, Anibal Niembro Rocas
  4. 1 2 3 4 Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide
  5. ↑ Flowering Trees of Bangalore, S.Karthikeyan
  6. 1 2 "IN PHOTOS: Where to find 'cherry blossoms' in the Philippines". 15 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Thailand's 9 auspicious trees". Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  8. ↑ Khare, C.P. (2007). Indian Medicinal Plants. Springer Verlag. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-387-70637-5.
  9. ↑ Kumavat, UC; Shimpi, SN; Jagdale, SP (2012). "Hypoglycemic activity of Cassia javanica Linn. in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats". J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 3 (1): 47–51. doi:10.4103/2231-4040.93562 (inactive 1 August 2023). PMC 3312727. PMID 22470893.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of August 2023 (link)
  10. ↑ C.Javanica Phytochemical and Pharmocologocal Profile
  11. ↑ Online Manual for the Forest Tree Seeds of Kerala

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