Compilation
Cassia afrofistula

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Name

Identification
Cassia afrofistula Brenan [family LEGUMINOSAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Not on sheet.,
Related name
  • Cassia afrofistula
  • Cassia fistula

Flora

Entry for CASSIA afrofistula Brenan [family LEGUMINOSAE-CAESALPINIOIDEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (1967) Author: J. P. M. Brenan
Names
CASSIA afrofistula Brenan [family LEGUMINOSAE-CAESALPINIOIDEAE], in K.B. 13: 236 (1958); K.T.S.: 101 (1961). Type: Tanganyika, Tanga District, Sawa, Faulkner 1956 (K, holo.!, BR, iso.!)
CASSIA sieberana [family LEGUMINOSAE-CAESALPINIOIDEAE], [sensu T.S.K.: 61 (1936), non DC.]
CASSIA fistula [family LEGUMINOSAE-CAESALPINIOIDEAE], [sensu T.T.C.L.: 97 (1949), pro parte, non L. ]
CASSIA beareana [family LEGUMINOSAE-CAESALPINIOIDEAE], [sensu U.O.P.Z.: 175 (1949), non Holmes]
Information
Shrub or small tree 1.2–6 m. high (? more). Young branchlets minutely puberulous (in East Africa), soon glabrous. Leaves with petiole and rhachis eglandular, the latter 7–25 cm. long. Leaflets in 4–9 pairs, petiolulate, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 2–10 cm. long, (1–)1.5–5.2 cm. wide, obtuse or subacute at apex, in Flora area glabrous except at extreme base. Inflorescence a usually erect large pyramidal terminal panicle up to 30–40 cm. long or more, composed of terminal and lateral racemes (8–)15–38 cm. long. Bracts all falling while the flower-buds are young, 4–8 mm. long. Petals bright yellow, 1.5–3 cm. long, 1–2 cm. wide. Stamens 10; filaments of 3 lower each with an S-bend near base and an abrupt conspicuous swelling a little more than half-way along their length. Pods subcylindrical or very slightly compressed, usually ± attenuate at base and apex, 20–60 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. in diameter, glabrous, blackish-brown, transversely but not longitudinally partitioned within. Seeds embedded in pulp, brown or blackish-brown, 6–8 mm. in diameter, 4 mm. thick. Fig. 11, p. 63.
Range
DISTR. K1, 7; T3, 6, 8; Z; P (fide U.O.P.Z.: 175)
Altitude range
0–90 m.
Distribution
KENYA Kilifi District coast N. of Malindi, Boula, 5 Nov. 1945, J. Adamson 192 in Bally 6092! & Malindi, Oct. 1951, Tweedie 996!KENYA Tana River District Mambosasa, R. M. Graham Z.303 in F.H. 1791 !TANGANYIKA Tanga District Tanga, Ras Kasone, May 1942, Lindeman 1025 !TANGANYIKA Mafia I., 3 Apr. 1933, Wallace 743 !TANGANYIKA Lindi District Ngongo, 25 May 1943, Gillman 1483 !ZANZIBAR Zanzibar I., 1927, Toms 123 ! & Fumba, 28 Jan. 1929, Greenway 1233 ! & Chwaka road, 9 Dec. 1954, R. 0. Williams 189 !
Distribution (external)
; Mozambique
Notes
The above description relates to var. afrofistula. The var, patentipila Brenan in K.B. 13: 238 (1958) occurs in Mozambique and should be looked for in SE. Tanganyika. It differs in having the inflorescence ± shortly pubescent with spreading hairs, not appressed-puberulous, and in mostly having some usually sparse crisped pubescence on the lower side of the leaflets (fig. 11/6–10). C. afrofistula has been frequently confused with true C. fistula L., which is probably a native of tropical Asia, but is cultivated as an ornamental tree in East Africa. C. fistula has normally pendulous racemes 1–3 together, and leaflets almost equal at base, with more numerous lateral nerves and minutely appressed-puberulous beneath. The pods of C. fistula are 1.5–2.5 cm. in diameter with hard woody walls, while those of C. afrofistula can easily be cracked between finger and thumb. This greater fragility of the pods also distinguishes C. afrofistula from C. angolensis, C. mannii, C. abbreviata and C. sieberana.

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