(Last Modified On 11/27/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/27/2012)
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Species
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CASSIA FISTULA L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 377. 1753.
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Synonym
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Cathartocarpus Fistula (L.) Pers. Syn. 1:459. 1805. Bactyrilobium Fistula (L.) Willd. Enum. Hort. Berol. 1:440. 1809. Cassia fistuloides Collad. Hist. Cass. 87, t. I. 1816, fide Benth. Cassia excelsa HBK. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 6:339. 1824, fide Benth. Cassia Boitplandiana DC. Prodr. 2:490. 1825, fide Benth. Cassia rhambifolia Roxb. Fl. Ind. 2:334. 1832, fide Benth. Cathartocarpus excelsus (.HBK.) G. Don, Gen. Hist. Dichl. P1. 2:453. 1832. Cathartocarpus rhombifolius (Roxb.) G. Don, loc. cit. 1832. Catbartocarpus fistuloides ('Collad.) G. Don, loc. cit. 454. 1832.
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Description
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Tree up to 20 m., usually glabrous. Leaves large, several-foliolate; petiole about 5 cm. long, glabrous, eglandular; rachis usually 2-4 dm. long, like the petiole; stipules small, caducous; leaflets normally 4-8 pairs, large, 8-20 cm. long and up to 8 cm. wide, ovate to lanceolate, acute apically, very obtuse basally,
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Habit
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Tree
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Description
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puberulent to glabrous above, lightly pubescent below; petiolules up to 1 cm. long. Inflorescence a large, graceful, pendent, many-flowered raceme; pedicels slender, usually 3-4 cm. long. Flowers large, showy, yellow; sepals 5, comparatively small (usually about 6 mm. long), ovate or oblong, puberulent; petals 5, large, about 2 cm. long or longer, ovate-orbicular, short-clawed, venose; stamens 3-morphic; the 3 lowermost almost 3 cm. long, the anthers ovate-oblong, 4-5 mm. long, glabrous, dehiscent apically and basally; the 4 median stamens about 1 cm. long, the anther ovate-oblong, sagittate, about 4 mm. long, dehiscent from the basal lobes (and apical pores); 3 uppermost stamens shorter and smaller, somewhat unequal, the anthers similar to the median ones; ovary slender, lightly pubescent. Legume (reported) cylindric, about 50 cm. long, indehiscent, with horizontal seeds.
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Distribution
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Central America; West Indies; northern South America: native to Asia.
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: Ancon, Zetek IO; Balboa, Standley 30847 (sterile).
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Note
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The tree, indigenous to Asia, is planted extensively as an ornamental in tropical America. The pulp of the fruit is sweetish, and is said to be useful as a purgative or laxative.
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