Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Vernacular name: Kassod tree, Siamese cassia (Hindi: कस्सौद)
Species Name: Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Family: Fabaceae
Habit: Medium evergreen tree
Stem: Straight trunk, smooth grey bark slightly fissured
Leaf: Paripinnate, 6-12 pairs elliptic-oblong leaflets
Flowering: Year-round (peaks April-June)
Flowers: Terminal/axillary branched panicles; bright yellow showy flowers; 5 sepals, 5 petals, 10 stamens (3 upper reduced), superior ovary
Fruit: Long flat linear-oblong pods
Uses:
- Leaves have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and bark has laxative applications.(caution needed)
- Plant has a derivative barakol that is used traditionally to help with intestinal worms, malaria, insomnia and has purgative property too.
- Plant is a Southeast Asia native and is a pantropical weed. drought-tolerant; shallow roots wind-prone.
- It is a cultivated as windbreaking shade tree for cocoa, coffee and tea and is a fast-growing pioneer and coppices well and helps to prevent soil erosion and is drought resistant and act as green manure (can be toxic to poultry and pigs).
- Hard wood is used derive excellent quality charcoal and for heavy construction, furniture, joinery and tool handles.
- Leaves and pods have high protein as used as livestock feed.
- Leaves, pods and flowers are also used in Thai dishes.
