Family Caesalpiniodeae
Cassia abbreviata subsp. beareana is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree up to 7 m high. Its slender to medium-broad trunk is covered in bark that ranges from dark brown to grey and black. In old trees the bark is often deeply furrowed.
The
leaves, which appear lightly drooping, are compound (one leaf made up of
smaller leaflets), bright green when young and fade to a darker green when
older.
The
flowers, which can be seen from August to October, are deep yellow and appear
clustered at the ends of the branches. They are sweetly scented. The pods
appear soon after the flowers, are up to 80 mm long and cylindrical in shape.
They ripen from a light green to a dark brown. The pods may take up to a year
to ripen.
The genus name Cassia is derived from the Greek word. The species name abbreviata means shortened, and the subspecies beareana was named after Dr O'Sullivan Beare from the London Pharmaceutical Society who apparently found that a root extract from this plant could be used to cure blackwater fever. There are about 30 Cassia species worldwide, but this is the only one found naturally in South Africa, although others are cultivated as garden plants.
This tree is popular with both animals and humans. Various birds from our indigenous parrot species to the Go-away Bird eat the fruit pulp and seeds. Animals such as nyala, giraffe and kudu browse the leaves. Elephants are also said to eat the leaves and the young branches of the tree.
Various parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine for treating everything from blackwater fever, headache, toothache and stomachache to using it as a natural abortion agent.
An
infusion is made from the root and drunk as an aphrodisiac. The seed is known
to be used as a tonic. The root is used for the treatment of toothache. And for
the treatment of headaches, the smoke from smouldering twigs can be inhaled to
bring relief.
In addition the tree is
also seen as a very useful ornamental subject in gardens.
