Botanical Name - Cassia fistula

----- C. Fistula, Linn. ; F.B.I. II-261. Brandi's Ind. Trees, 253. Gamble's Ind. Timbers. 271. Vern. Amaltas, Hind. Riala, Tel. Bawa, Gurmala, Mar. The Indian Laburnum.

----- A moderate-sized deciduous tree. Bark compact. greenish-grey and smooth when young. dark reddish-brown and rough when old, exfoliating in many-sided patches. Leaves paripinnate, 1-2 ft. long. Leaflets 4-8 'pairs 3-6 by 2-3 in., ovate or ovate-oblong. sub-coriaceous, acuminate, entire. Flowers bright yellow, in pendulous axillary racemes, 12-18 in. long ; pedicels spreading, 1-2 1/2 in. long ; bracts minute caducous, Calyx 1/4 - 1/3 in. ; glabrous, caducous. Petals obovate-shortly clawed, 3/4 - 1 in. Stamens all bearing anthers, the 3 lower charger and the filaments longer than the others. Pod up to 2 ft. long, 1 in. diam., cylindrical, smooth, hard, indehiscent, dark brown when ripe, divided by partitions into numerous 1-seeded cells. Seeds about 3/8 in. diam., compressed albuminous.

----- Found throughout the Hyderabad forests, being one of the most widespread of forests trees. It bears a striking resemblance to the Laburnum and is uncommonly beautiful when it flower, few trees surpassing it in the elegance of its numerous long pendulous racemes of large bright-yellow flowers, inter mixed with the young lively green foliage . It is also striking and conspicuous when bearing its long cylindrical, pendant stick-like pods. It varies in size in different localities, often grows stunted and bushy and seldom reaches 20 ft. in height. The heart-wood varies in colour from grey or yellowish-red to brick-red, darkening much on exposure. Weight about 60 lbs. per c. ft. It is good and durable and if found of suitable size, would do well for posts, ploughshares, rice-pounders, etc. Makes excellent fuel and charcoal. The pulp of the ripe fruit is a strong purgative, but apparently does not affect bears and monkeys who are very fond of it. It is also used in the manufacture of the native " Gudakhu " tobacco smoked in " Hokahs." About 2 lbs. weight of the fruit will yield 8 oz. of the separated pulp, which forms an article of commerce. The bark is largely used for tanning by the village " Chamars " which causes a good deal of damage to the trees in the forests. New Leaves and Flowers appear in May and June ; Fruit in the cold season, remaining on the tree till the beginning of the hot weather.