golden shower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Purging Cassia
• Liquorice Plant
• Trommelstok
• Indian-laburnum
• golden shower
• Golden Shower Tree
• Golden Rain
• Indian Laburnum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cathartocarpus fistula
• Cathartocarpus fistuloides
• Cassia fistuloides
• Bactyrilobium fistula
• Cassia bonplandiana
• Cassia rhombifolia
• Cathartocarpus excelsus
• Cathartocarpus rhombifolius
• Cassia fistula var. ovata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Cassia fistula, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Cassia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its range extends into the country of Egypt. It is also found within the Macaronesia region, specifically in Cape Verde. The distribution continues through West Tropical Africa, where it can be located in Gambia and Senegal. Finally, its presence is noted in West-Central Tropical Africa within Cameroon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cassia fistula is characterized by its adaptability to diverse tropical and subtropical environments, thriving in habitats ranging from dry deciduous forests to open scrublands and urban landscapes. It exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, typically found at elevations starting from 0 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1470 m AMSL. This species is well-suited to seasonally dry climates, often favoring well-drained, sandy, or loamy soils and demonstrating significant resilience to drought conditions once established. Its presence in various ecosystems contributes to local biodiversity, providing nectar sources for various pollinators and shade within its natural range.

Elevational range max:

1470 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cassia fistula is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it lives for many years and maintains its biological functions through successive growing seasons. As a long-lived woody species, it undergoes a developmental progression from a seedling into a large, spreading tree that can reach significant heights and diameters over time. Its lifecycle is marked by distinct seasonal rhythms, most notably a prolific flowering period that typically occurs in late spring or early summer, where drooping racemes of bright yellow flowers emerge. Following pollination, the plant produces elongated, dark brown seed pods that persist on the branches, housing the seeds necessary for the next generation. Because it is a perennial, the plant establishes a robust root system and a perennial canopy that allows it to withstand varying environmental conditions and undergo repeated reproductive cycles throughout its extensive lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cassia fistula is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 5 meters, with an average height of approximately 10 meters. As a self-supporting woody organism, it does not exhibit climbing or vine-like behaviors, maintaining a robust and stable arboreal habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cassia fistula is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency in varying light environments. This species does not exhibit succulence, meaning its tissues lack the specialized water-storage adaptations found in xerophytic plants, relying instead on standard transpiration and water regulation mechanisms. Furthermore, it is not a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, instead depending on the available nitrogen levels within the soil for its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cassia fistula is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, which facilitates the fertilization process. The resulting fruit is described as fleshy in nature, containing seeds that exhibit a consistent volume of 27 mm³. These seeds vary significantly in weight, with a minimum mass of 0.105 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.759 g, and a maximum mass reaching up to 3.5714 g. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the plant utilizes a combination of dispersal syndromes; it is primarily zoochorous, relying on animals for seed transport, though it also exhibits anthropochorous traits, indicating dispersal through human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

3.5714 g

Seed mass mean:

0.759032857 g

Seed mass min:

0.105 g

Seed volume max:

27 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cassia fistula has 6 reported plant parts identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, flower, stem, seed.

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. IET nanobiotechnology
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Fruit

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Journal of medical microbiology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemosphere
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Current drug delivery

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research
3. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
4. Heliyon

Seed

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Advances in contraception : the official journal of the Society for the Advancement of Contraception
3. Journal of natural products

Root

1. Pharmacognosy research

Chemicals

Cassia fistula has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chrysophanol, Flavonoids, Rhein, CATECHIN, CHLOROFORM.

Chrysophanol

1. Inflammopharmacology
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Journal of natural products

Flavonoids

1. Natural product research
2. IET nanobiotechnology
3. Chemosphere

Rhein

1. Inflammopharmacology
2. Heliyon
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CATECHIN

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

CHLOROFORM

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Epicatechin

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Flavonoid

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

HEXANE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Tannins

1. IET nanobiotechnology
2. Chemosphere

Activities

Cassia fistula has 22 reported activities identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
4. Natural product research
5. IET nanobiotechnology

Antibacterial

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
3. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
4. 3 Biotech
5. Chemosphere

Antimicrobial

1. IET nanobiotechnology
2. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
3. Chemosphere
4. Journal of medical microbiology
5. Heliyon

Antiproliferative

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Biological research

Hypoglycemic

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
2. Heliyon

Analgesic

1. Heliyon

Anti-Itching

1. Iranian journal of medical sciences

Antiallergic

1. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antibiotic

1. Current research in pharmacology and drug discovery

Medicinal Uses

Cassia fistula has 54 reported medicinal uses identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations