The blistering summer has hastened the flowering of a bevy of summer-flowering trees. The Copper Pods Trees are already sprouting their second crop of flowers of the season. The Jacarandas and Pride of India are proliferating with clusters of exquisite purple-blue. The Flame of the Forest and Coral Trees are filled with large red and orange flowers. But, the tree that has put on the most mesmerising display with its drooping clusters of vibrant yellow flowers, seeming to tumble from the tree like bridal bouquets is the Golden Shower Tree.
Known by many names — Indian Laburnum, Amaltas, Purging Fistula, Pudding-pipe tree, Girmala, Rajbrikh, Alash, Kiar, Kirwara, Ali; its official botanical name is the Cassia Fistula Linn and it is one of the most widespread trees in India and South-East Asia, at home both in cities as well as in moist and dry forests. The tree is mostly known to be ornamental and loved by some mammals, bees, and butterflies.
This middle-sized deciduous tree is leafless only for a brief time, between March and May. The new leaves are glossy, a trait that they lose on maturing, and are mostly bright green, though sometimes a rich copper too. It flowers from April to June, partly alongside the emergence of new leaves, but it’s not uncommon to find the Golden Shower in flower as late as September.
The bark is used to make dye and the pulp in the fruit pod also serves as a strong purgative agent, which helps animals that feed on it. A medicinal preparation with the roots of the tree is used to cure leprosy and skin diseases and the leaves are used to get rid of ulcers, in traditional medicine. Ayurveda signifies this plant as “Sarvarogaprashamani” one that cures all types of diseases and shields the body against numerous microbial infections.
The Golden shower is both the national tree and the national flower of Thailand. Known locally as the Ratchaphruek, the reason it was chosen as the national flower in 2001 is its bold yellow colour. Yellow is associated with Buddhism, the country’s majority religion. Yellow is also seen as the colour of glory, harmony, and unity.
It is also the state flower of Indian state Kerala. The local Malayali people place great significance on the flower and the flowers are used in sacred rituals during the state’s Vishnu Festival. The tree is mentioned in ancient Tamil texts. In Laos, the Golden showers flower is associated with the Laotian New Year. Flowers are hung in people’s homes to attract good fortunes and given as offerings in the temples.
The Indian Postal Department to commemorate the Golden shower flower issued a Rs 1 postal stamp in 1981 and Rs 20 in 2000. Additionally, the flower has been featured on stamps of many other countries.
If you’d like to experience these Golden Showers first hand, a walk around Margao’s Aga Khan Children’s Park will leave you enthralled, and a camera reel filled with great pictures!
