Cassia javanica

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Caesalpinioideae
Tribus: Cassieae
Subtribus: Cassiinae
Genus: Cassia
Species: Cassia javanica
Subspecies: C. j. subsp. agnes – C. j. subsp. javanica – C. j. subsp. microcalix – C. j. subsp. pubiflora – C. j. subsp. renigera
Name

Cassia javanica L., 1753
Synonyms

Cassia bacillus Gaertn.
Cassia megalantha Decne.
Cathartocarpus javanicus Pers.

Homonyms

Cassia javanica Vell. = Cassia ferruginea var. vellozoana H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Cassia javanica Sieber ex Benth. = Cassia sieberiana DC.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Asie-tropical
Regional: Southeastern Asie
Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., New Guinea, Philippines
Introduced into:
Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, India, Laos, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Society Is., Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Tomus I. Pp. [I–XII], 1–560. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm]. BHL Reference page. : 379.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Cassia javanica in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Aug 28. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Cassia javanica. Published online. Accessed: Aug 28 2020.Carolus Linnaeus
Tropicos.org 2020. Cassia javanica. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 28 Aug 2020.
Catalogue of Life: 2021 Annual Checklist
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Cassia javanica in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: apple blossom, Java Cassia, Pink Shower tree
français: Casse de Java
हिन्दी: লাল সোনাইল
Hiri Motu: Javaska kasija
português: Cássia-javanesa
ไทย: ชัยพฤกษ์ lea
Tiếng Việt: Muồng hoa đào
中文: 粉花决明

Cassia javanica, also known as Java cassia, pink shower, apple blossom tree and rainbow shower tree (Thai: ชัยพฤกษ์; Filipino: balayong),[2] is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae. Its origin is in Southeast Asia, but it has been extensively grown in tropical areas worldwide as a garden tree owing to its beautiful crimson and pink flower bunches.[3]

Description
Detail of flowers and leaves

Cassia javanica is a fast growing, deciduous / semi-deciduous tree which flowers in spring and sheds its leaves in the winter months. It has a straight trunk that reaches heights of 25 - 40m. The leaves are paripinnate with 12 pairs of elliptical leaves. The flowers range in colour from pale pink to crimson with yellow coloured stamens and are found in open clusters. The ground under the tree is covered with a beautiful carpet of pink towards the end of the flowering season. The fruit are housed in long cylindrical dark brown pods. Because of its beauty and suitable size C. javanica is planted as a shade and ornamental tree on streets and in parks.[4] C. javanica is polymorphic and several sub species such as those listed below exist.[5]
Range

Cassia javanica originated in Java and Sumatra.[6] Native range of this species is China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mauritius, the Philippines,[7] United States and Pacific Islands. Today it is also commonly found in other places including Bangladesh, India and the Philippines.[5]
Flowering season

In India, C. javanica flowers in April/May and fruits and sheds its leaves in December. In Thailand, C. javanica flowers between Feb and April.[8] In the Philippines, C. nodosa or C. javanica nodosa flowers between February until the summer season.[9] In East Java, C. javanica flowers between October and December and fruits in the dry season.[5]
Cultural importance

Cassia javanica is one of Thailand's Nine Auspicious Trees and is said to bring good luck, ensure continued high rank and afford victory.[8] Its flower is the provincial flower of Chainat Province, Thailand.

The subspecies native to the Philippines, locally called balayong, is honored through the Balayong Festival in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The flower is a historical symbol of feminine dominance, female beauty, and love in the language of herbs among the locals.[10]
Uses

It is used medicinally as a substitute to Cassia fistula for treating constipation, colic, chlorosis and urinary disorders.[11] Its leaves are effective against herpes simplex and the bark of C. javanica is one of the ingredients in ayurvedic and other traditional medicine antidiabetic formulations.[12][13] C. javanica yields a lightweight to heavy hardwood that is used for general construction, furniture and cabinet making.[5] The bark of C. javanica is used for tanning in the leather processing industry.[14]
References

"Cassia javanica L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
"IN PHOTOS: Where to find 'cherry blossoms' in the Philippines".
UFL - Cassia javanica
Cassia Javanica L, Anibal Niembro Rocas
Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide
Flowering Trees of Bangalore, S.Karthikeyan
"IN PHOTOS: Where to find 'cherry blossoms' in the Philippines".
"Thailand's 9 auspicious trees". Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
"IN PHOTOS: Where to find 'cherry blossoms' in the Philippines".
"IN PHOTOS: Where to find 'cherry blossoms' in the Philippines".
Khare, C.P. (2007). Indian Medicinal Plants. Springer Verlag. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-387-70637-5.
Kumavat, UC; Shimpi, SN; Jagdale, SP (2012). "Hypoglycemic activity of Cassia javanica Linn. in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats". J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 3 (1): 47–51. doi:10.4103/2231-4040.93562 (inactive 31 July 2022). PMC 3312727. PMID 22470893.
C.Javanica Phytochemical and Pharmocologocal Profile
Online Manual for the Forest Tree Seeds of Kerala