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Conservation Status
IUCN: not evaluated
USFWS: None
Family: FABACEAE Genus: Cassia Species: javanica Species Author: L. Vernacular: Pink-and-white Shower Synonyms: Cassia javanica L. var. agnes
Cassia javanica is a fast-growing, semideciduous tree up to 25 m in height and 35 cm d.b.h. The trunk frequently has many shoots. The crown, consisting of descending branches with sparse foliage is wide-open, arched and spread out. It has very pretty pale-green leaves 2 inches (5 cm) long. The leaves are paripinnate, made up of 12 pairs of leaflets that are elliptic or oblong and rounded at the apex and base.
It produces a mass of gorgeous flowers, with petals at first pale red, changing to dark red, then palling again to pink, arranged in racemes. Cassia javanica blooms during the spring, and the fruits (legumes) ripen in the fall. The legumes are hanging and they are thin, cylindrical, 30 to 40 cm long, 1.5 cm in diameter, dark brown to black, transversally septate, and indehiscent when ripe with ligneous and thin valves. Inside each septum one seed is surrounded by a viscous, brown pulp. Each fruit contains numerous seeds. The seeds are obovate, biconvex in cross section, ventrally flattened, 6.5to 8.9 mm long, 5.6 to 7.0 mm wide, and 2.5 to 5.5 mm thick.
(Holdridge and Poveda. 1975; Irwin and Barneby. 1982; Isely. 1975; Little and others. 1967.)
Cassia javanica is cultivated as a shade and ornamental tree along streets and in parks and gardens.
(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)
We currently have 7 herbarium specimens for Cassia javanica in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
