By Liliana Usvat
Blog 325-365
Golden Shower Trees (English) Lluvia de Oro (Spanish), Cassia fistula, Fabaceae family; native to southern Asia. A deciduous tree with pinnae leaflets (foliage), brought in the late 19th Century to Yucatan as an ornamental flowering tree; it is most striking during May when it is in full bloom.
Cassia fistula is native to South Asia. It has been found widely in India, Pakistan, Myanmar, SriLanka, etc. This tree is the national tree of Thailand and its flower is its national flower. It is also the state flower of Kerala in India.
Flowers bloom in delicate golden yellow drop clusters. Golden Shower seed pods are long dark brown sausage-like with woody exterior and stick molasses covering wafer shaped seeds, abundant while blooming.
Like the Royal Flamboyan, Golden Shower tree is a favorite in Mayan villages and Yucatan's urban avenues or parks, for its amazingly exotic looking and has truly whimsical beautiful flowering bloom clusters gently dropping ever so graceful down its branches.
Golden Shower should not be confused with another member of the Fabaceae family the Golden Rain Tree or Lapacho amarillo (Spanish), Tabebuia chrysotricha, native to China, whose flower clusters grow upwards.
Lluvia de Oro, also known as the Golden Shower tree, Amaltas and Cassia Fistula, is a small to medium-size tree which can reach 30-40 feet tall. Its shiny green leaves drop in April, and by late spring the entire tree turns into a show stopping burst of lemon-yellow.
When in full bloom (May-June or early July), the trees are covered with long grape-like clusters of countless delicate yellow flowers – it almost appears as if they have yellow lace dripping from their branches. The leaves begin to return as the flowering progresses, with foliage totally restored by July.
Lluvia de Oro trees attract bees, butterflies and birds and are widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the world for their ornamental and medicinal properties.
The flowers are followed by 2-foot-long, round, slender and woody bean pods which contain several seeds. The fruit/pods emerge green, but mature to black, and can remain on the tree until the following year.
Medicinal Uses
The pod produces between its many seeds a pulp that makes an excellent laxative
The uncooked pulp of the pods cures constipation.
Blog 325-365
Golden Shower Trees (English) Lluvia de Oro (Spanish), Cassia fistula, Fabaceae family; native to southern Asia. A deciduous tree with pinnae leaflets (foliage), brought in the late 19th Century to Yucatan as an ornamental flowering tree; it is most striking during May when it is in full bloom.
Cassia fistula is native to South Asia. It has been found widely in India, Pakistan, Myanmar, SriLanka, etc. This tree is the national tree of Thailand and its flower is its national flower. It is also the state flower of Kerala in India.
Flowers bloom in delicate golden yellow drop clusters. Golden Shower seed pods are long dark brown sausage-like with woody exterior and stick molasses covering wafer shaped seeds, abundant while blooming.
Like the Royal Flamboyan, Golden Shower tree is a favorite in Mayan villages and Yucatan's urban avenues or parks, for its amazingly exotic looking and has truly whimsical beautiful flowering bloom clusters gently dropping ever so graceful down its branches.
Golden Shower should not be confused with another member of the Fabaceae family the Golden Rain Tree or Lapacho amarillo (Spanish), Tabebuia chrysotricha, native to China, whose flower clusters grow upwards.
Lluvia de Oro, also known as the Golden Shower tree, Amaltas and Cassia Fistula, is a small to medium-size tree which can reach 30-40 feet tall. Its shiny green leaves drop in April, and by late spring the entire tree turns into a show stopping burst of lemon-yellow.
When in full bloom (May-June or early July), the trees are covered with long grape-like clusters of countless delicate yellow flowers – it almost appears as if they have yellow lace dripping from their branches. The leaves begin to return as the flowering progresses, with foliage totally restored by July.
Lluvia de Oro trees attract bees, butterflies and birds and are widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the world for their ornamental and medicinal properties.
The flowers are followed by 2-foot-long, round, slender and woody bean pods which contain several seeds. The fruit/pods emerge green, but mature to black, and can remain on the tree until the following year.
Medicinal Uses
The pod produces between its many seeds a pulp that makes an excellent laxative
The uncooked pulp of the pods cures constipation.
The herb, Cassia fistula is having great
medicinal uses and its bark, fruits and leaves have been used since
ancient times. It has been referred to as “Aragvadha” or “disease
killer”.
Stomach disorders
Cassia Fistula is very effective in
treating constipation. Cassia fistula is very effective in treating
ulcers. The herb is very effective in treating piles. The pulp of the
tree can be soaked in water for about an hour or so and consumed at
bedtime. It also kills the intestinal worms.
Common Cold and Cough
The roots of the herb have great
curative effects against common cold. Some people inhale the smoke of
the roots. This cures the mucous that is found along the respiratory
tract.
The pod of the tree is powdered and mixed with honey and consumed. This is very effective in curing cough.
Fever
When infected with fever, a tonic is prepared from the roots of Cassia Fistula.
Skin Problems
The herb is very effective in treating
skin disorders like irritation, swelling, etc. The herb is very great in
curing fungal infections of the skin. Some of them are athlete’s foot,
ringworm, jock itch, etc.
Immunity Booster
The bark and fruits of the tree have great antioxidant properties and hence boost the immunity system of the body.
Blood Purification
The bark of the tree and fruits help in purification of the blood.
Wounds
Cassia Fistula is great in treating
wounds. The specialty of the herb is that it promotes tissue
regeneration. In many countries, the juice extracted from the juice of
the leaves or a paste of the leaves is used for dressing the infected
skin areas.
Blood Sugar
The roots of Cassia fistula have the property to reduce blood sugar by about 30 percent.
Purgative
In some countries like Philippines, a
decoction is prepared from the leaves and fruit pulp of the tree. This
serves as a great purgative.
Precautions
The herb needs to be taken in small quantities. Consuming excess of the medicine results in stomach pain and vomiting.
