Cassia fistula 

Indian Laburnum, Purging Fistula, Amaltas, Golden shower tree

Near Tropical terrain, INDIA

USDA zone: 9-11

Seeds shelf life: 1-2 years

6,500 seeds/kg

Cassia fistula is a moderate-sized deciduous tree with a bole 40feet high and 3 - 4 ft in girth, indigenous to India, and naturalised in tropical Africa, South America and West Indies.  It is sometimes cultivated for its beautiful yellow flowers which appear during April - June.  The fruits are pendulous, cylindrical, 25 - 50cm, long and 1.5 - 3 cm in diam. And contain 25 - 100 seeds.  Although one-celled in the beginning, the fruit latter develops numerous transverse septa between the seeds.  In fresh pods, the seeds are completely surrounded by a black pulp, which, on drying adheres to the septa. The bark of Cassia fistula known as Sumari is sued in admixture with avaram bark in the tanning of East India Kips. It is mainly used as ornamental trees, but also used as firewood in Mexico. Wood is also used to make farm implements. 

According to Nalawadi et al (1977), Cassia fistula seeds were either soaked in concentrated H2SO4 for 5-20 minutes and then soaked in water for 24 hours, or soaked in water alone for 24 hours. Seeds soaked in water alone failed to germinate, but soaking in acid for 20 minutes resulted in 84% germination.

Seed Treatment