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Flowering trees - Cassia fistula (बहावा)


grape bunches-like flowers
IIT Bombay hots many flowering trees, which are unusual to find in Mumbai city. This is the first article in the series of "flowering trees". The series will be covering details about some of impressive trees present on the campus. 

Tree for today is Cassia fistula, commonly known by Amaltaas / Golden shower tree or Indian Laburnum [1]. In Marathi it is named as 'Bahava' (बहावा). In Ayurvedic medicine, golden shower tree is known as aragvadha, meaning "disease killer" [2]. Its a tropical ornamental tree, may reach up-to 50 feet height. It is host plant LHP for Common emigrant and Mottled emigrant butterfly species. 

Golden shower tree is obvious name due to bright and cheerful display by thousands of fragrant small flower. Pendant like (grape bunches-like) bouquet of golden colored yellow flowers are eye catching. These flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies [1]. Flowering season for the tree is in the months of March to May. Sometimes the tree is seen without a single leaf when flowering. The golden shower tree is the national flower Thailand; its yellow flowers symbolize Thai Royalty [2]. Its also state flower of Kerala. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this tree. 


Quick Facts:
Botanical Name: Cassia Fistula
Family:  Gulmohar
Flowering season: Late spring
Location on campus: Out side DRDO and QIP quarters.



Small Bahava Tree


Reference: 

10 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2013 at 5:19 PM

    Informative Post Paresh,I didn't knew about the scientific name of this flower..

    ReplyDelete
  2. ArchanaSeptember 14, 2013 at 10:07 PM

    We used to call it Midas touch obviously from the story when we were kids and the names stuck in my head.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paresh KaleSeptember 18, 2013 at 9:05 AM

      The golden color must be the reason to call the toucj 'Midas', what an apt call. Never struck to my mind, fantastic.

      Delete
  3. Krisgeet67April 15, 2015 at 12:38 PM

    Where can I buy this plant in Mumbai?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paresh KaleApril 15, 2015 at 4:03 PM

      You can get this plant in any nursery. It is fairly common variety.

      Delete
  4. UnknownDecember 19, 2016 at 12:50 PM

    It is called in Gujarati- GARAMALO
    IF I am not wrong it may use as purgative medicine

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownAugust 7, 2017 at 11:04 AM

    TREE AMALTAS (CASSIA FISTULA)

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownAugust 7, 2017 at 11:05 AM

    i purchased seeds from website biocarve.com in india. almost all seed sprouted within 5 days (with paper towel method)

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownSeptember 26, 2018 at 4:42 PM

    What is the importance, of drumstick like thing,or like shewgyachi Zhengzhou,on bahawa tree

    ReplyDelete

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