Common Name: Golden Shower

General Information

Golden shower is a small, slow-growing deciduous or semi-deciduous tree with a rather narrow crown in some reports, but spreading according to others. It can grow 10 - 15 metres tall[, ]. The bole can be 40 - 50cm in diameter[].
The tree has a very long history of medicinal use, dating back to ancient times, and it is still commonly used in modern medicine[]. It has often been cultivated for its medicinal use, and this has contributed to its spread around the tropics from its original home in southern India[]. It is now widespread in East Africa and several of the Indian Ocean islands[]. It is widely planted as an ornamental in the tropics, being especially attractive when commencing flowering since it is leafless at this time[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Indian subcontinent. Naturalized in other areas of the tropics, including east Africa.

Habitat

Dry deciduous forest at lower altitudes[]. Open forest and grassland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants succeed in the dry to moist tropics and subtropics, growing in areas where the annual rainfall is in the range 500 - 2,700 mm and the average annual temperatures is 18 - 29°c[]. Plants are vulnerable to frost[].
Prefers a deep, well-drained, moderately fertile sandy loam and a position in full sun[]. It seems to favour calcareous and red, volcanic soils, but is also found on sandy and loamy soils with a pH of 5.5 - 8.7[]. Tolerates some shade[]. Established plants are fairly drought resistant[, ].
The plants are slow-growing and generally take 8 - 10 years from sowing to flowering[]. This period can be reduced by vegetative propagation[]. At the beginning of flowering, the whole crown is covered with flowers; sporadic flowering continues for up to 3 months[]. The seeds take about a year to ripen[].
The tree coppices well and produces root suckers freely[]. It does not compete well with weeds[].
Although it is a legume, the roots of this species lack nodulating ability and do not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

The bark is an ingredient in betel paste, the slightly narcotic masticatory that is popular in some areas of Asia[].

The flowers are edible[, ].

Leaves[]. Mildly laxative[].

Fruit pulp[]. A sweet taste with a mucilaginous texture[]. Mildly laxative[, ].

The pulverised seeds are used as a laxative[].

The fruit pulp contains derived anthracenes[].

Medicinal

The ripe pods and seeds are widely used in both traditional and conventional medicine as a laxative. The root-bark, leaves and flowers also have laxative properties, but to a lesser extent[]. In modern medicine, the fruit pulp is sometimes used as a mild laxative in paediatrics[].
The fruit pulp and leaves are rich in anthraquinone derivatives (around 2%), and glycosides, which are responsible for the laxative properties[].
The fruit pulp is rich in pectins and mucilage[].
In-vitro and in-vivo tests have shown that the seed powder has amoebicidal and cysticidal properties against Entamoeba histolytica and that it could cure intestinal amoebiasis of humans. The aqueous fraction of the pods has produced a significant decrease in glycaemia[].
Aqueous and methanolic bark extracts have shown significant anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities[].
An alcohol extract of the leaves has shown antibacterial activity in vivo against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, plus accelerated wound healing[]. A water extract of the leaves has shown antifungal activity against the human skin pathogens Trichophyton spp., Epidermatophyton floccosum and Microsporum ferruginum[].

The pods are used as a remedy for malaria, blood poisoning, anthrax, diabetes and dysentery[].

The pods contain a sweet, sticky pulp[]. A decoction of this is taken as a cure for kidney stones, as a vermifuge and as a laxative[]. The pulp is extracted from the pods by bruising them and then boiling them in water, after which the decoction is evaporated. It may be obtained from fresh pods by opening them at the sutures and removing the pulp with a spatula[]. The pulp is apt to become sour if long exposed to the air, or mouldy if kept in a damp place[459.

The bark or leaves are widely applied to skin problems[299. Broken bones and tropical ulcers are bandaged with bark scrapings and leaf sap[].

The heartwood is traditionally applied as an anthelmintic[].

A decoction of the roots is applied to purify wounds and ulcers[]. In India the roots are used to treat fevers[].

The concentration of sennoside in the leaves of Cassia fistula is highest soon after the onset of the rainy season, when new leaves have appeared and flowering started[]. The sennoside content of the pods is highest at the mid-stage of fruit maturation, when the pods are pale brown[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Suitable for use as a pioneer, the tree can be planted for the restoration of degraded lands and restoration of woodland. Since it is not palatable to domestic animals, it may be suitable for the reforestation of areas which have become overgrazed[].

Other Uses

The bark is used for tanning and dyeing[, ].

The seeds of Cassia fistula are a potential commercial source of seed gum, a potential binder for the pharmaceutical industry[]. The water soluble gum isolated from the seeds has been evaluated for its binding properties for formulations of tablets. The gum showed overall superiority in viscosity and binding properties as compared to other binders[].

The heartwood is yellow; it is distinctly demarcated from the white sapwood[]. The wood is reddish[]. The grain is straight to slightly interlocked; the texture moderately coarse; the wood is hard, heavy, strong and durable[, ]. It provides a hard multipurpose timber that can be used for buildings, carts, fence posts, agricultural implements etc[, , ].
The wood is used to make a good quality charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed. The seeds have a hard seed coat and germination is improved by mechanical scarification or treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid for at least 45 minutes[]. Pre-soaking for 12 - 24 hours in warm water can also be tried[]. The seed should be sown in full light, and adequate water supply is required for optimal germination - the seed can increase three times in weight by absorbing water[]. Germination takes place within a few days[]. Direct sowing is practised in Asia[].
Seed can be stored for prolonged periods without loss of viability[].
Cuttings of half ripe wood[].

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