Kerala – Golden Shower Tree
Common Name: Golden shower, Indian laburnum, pudding-pipe tree
Local Name: Kanikonna
Scientific Name: Cassia fistula
Description: With deciduous leaves, this medium-sized tree can reach a height of 10 to 20 meters. The blooms are produced in pendulous racemes and have five yellow petals that are of the same size and shape. widely planted in tropical and subtropical areas as an attractive plant. Typically, the flower opens its petals in late spring or early summer.
Uses: In Ayurvedic medicine, the tree is referred to as “aragvadha,” which means “disease killer.” This tree’s fruit pulp is used as a purgative, and in India, tobacco is occasionally mixed with a cathartic derived from the pulp. These flowers are an essential component of the local culture in Kerala and are used throughout the Vishu celebrations.