Tree Details

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Botanical Name	Cassia roxburghii DC.
Family Name	Caesalpiniaceae
Common Name	Red cassia ,Ceylon senna
Tamil Name	வாகை
Life Form	Tree
Distribution	Indian subcontinent and adjacent regions of Southeast Asia.
Botanical Distribution	Habit: A small round-shaped tree. Leaves: Paripinnate compound, leaflets 10-20 pairs, blunt at tips smooth above. Flowers: Single clusters in the axils of leaves. The colour of the flowers is terracotta red with fine green veins, deeper in tone on the under surfaces. The older blooms are very bright pink. The two lower petals are the largest. All stamens are fertile. The 3 uppermost are the largest, they protrude and curve inwards and are crowned with dark red anthers, there is no swelling in middle, the central 4 smaller stamens have bright red anthers and 2 lower smallest stamens have yellow anthers. The sepals are salmon pink, each flower has a pale green bract. Fruit: Pods cylindrical, 8-12 inches long.
Flowering and Fruiting	May – June
Key Compounds	Water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, sulphated ash
Medicinal Use	Effective against constipation, cold, congestion and running nose, reduce fever, treatment of intestinal disorders.
At the Campus	Botanical garden