Cassia abbreviata

Invasive species Disclaimer

In view of the fact that some tree species are invasive, the world Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) has put in place a policy document on Invasive Alien Species, currently under draft available at Here.

For more information on this subject, please refer to
100 of the World's worst Invasive and Alien Species.




Species Index    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Multiple Criteria Search


Abelmoschus moschatus
Acacia aneura
Acacia angustissima
Acacia aulacocarpa
Acacia auriculiformis
Acacia catechu
Acacia cincinnata
Acacia crassicarpa
Acacia elatior
Acacia erioloba
Acacia etbaica
Acacia ferruginea
Acacia glauca
Acacia holosericea
Acacia karroo*
Acacia koa
Acacia laeta
Acacia lahai
Acacia leptocarpa
Acacia leucophloea
Acacia mangium
Acacia mearnsii*
Acacia melanoxylon
Acacia mellifera
Acacia nilotica subsp nilotica
Acacia pachycarpa
Acacia pennatula
Acacia polyacantha ssp. polyacantha
Acacia saligna
Acacia senegal
Acacia seyal
Acacia sieberiana
Acacia tortilis
Acacia xanthophloea
Acrocarpus fraxinifolius
Adansonia digitata
Adenanthera pavonina
Aegle marmelos
Afzelia africana
Afzelia quanzensis
Agathis macrophylla
Agathis philippinensis
Ailanthus altissima
Ailanthus excelsa
Ailanthus triphysa
Albizia adianthifolia
Albizia amara
Albizia anthelmintica
Albizia chinensis
Albizia coriaria
Albizia ferruginea
Albizia gummifera
Albizia julibrissin
Albizia lebbeck
Albizia odoratissima
Albizia procera
Albizia saman
Albizia versicolor
Albizia zygia
Aleurites moluccana
Allanblackia floribunda
Allanblackia stuhlmannii
Allanblackia ulugurensis
Alnus acuminata
Alnus cordata
Alnus japonica
Alnus nepalensis
Alnus rubra
Alphitonia zizyphoides
Alstonia boonei
Alstonia congensis
Alstonia scholaris
Altingia excelsa
Anacardium occidentale
Andira inermis
Annona cherimola
Annona muricata
Annona reticulata
Annona senegalensis
Annona squamosa
Anogeissus latifolia
Anthocephalus cadamba
Antiaris toxicaria
Antidesma bunius
Araucaria bidwillii
Araucaria cunninghamii
Arbutus unedo
Areca catechu
Arenga pinnata
Argania spinosa
Artemisia annua
Artocarpus altilis
Artocarpus camansi
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Artocarpus integer
Artocarpus lakoocha
Artocarpus mariannensis
Asimina triloba
Ateleia herbert-smithii
Aucomea klaineana
Averrhoa bilimbi
Averrhoa carambola
Azadirachta excelsa
Azadirachta indica
Azanza garckeana
Related Links
tree
© Mark W. Skinner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Local names:
Afrikaans (sambokpeul), Bemba (musambafwa,munsokansoka), English (sjambok pod,long pod cassia), Somali (rabuya,domader), Swahili (mkakatika,mbaraka)

Cassia abbreviata is a single-stemmed shrub or small tree 2-15 m with a medium round canopy. Bark grey to brown, very rough on older trees. Young branchlets glabrous, pubescent or puberulous.

Leaves with petiole and rachis (5-25 cm long) eglandular. Leaflets in 5-12 pairs, petiolulate, ovate-elliptic to oblong-elliptic, sometimes elliptic-lanceolate, 1-7.5 cm long, 0.8-4.5 cm wide, rounded to obtuse or subacute at apex, usually pubescent or puberulous.

Flowers fragrant, racemes 0.5-9 cm long. Bracts persistent while flowers are open. Petals yellow, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 0.7-1.8 cm wide. Stamens 10; filaments of 3 each with an S-bend near base and a swelling half-way along their length.

Pods cylindrical, 30-90 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, from velvety to glabrous and blackish, transversely but not longitudinally partitioned within.

Seeds embedded in pulp, brown-black, 9-12 x 8-9 x 3 mm.

Based on petal size, pubescence and geographical distribution three subspecies, namely abbreviata Brenan, beareana (Holmes) Brenan and kassneri (Bak. f.) Brenan are recognized for C. abbreviata.

The generic name is from the Greek name 'kassia'.

Ecology

C. abbreviata commonly occurs in Acacia-Commiphora bushland, becoming rare in woodland or wooded grassland. Usually found on anthills and clayey soils. The long pod cassia is moderately fast growing, drought tolerant and can withstand moderate frost. The mature trees are fire resistant, however young seedlings are vulnerable.

Native range
Botswana, Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Tree management

Pollarding, coppicing, trimming and pruning are recommended management strategies. Over-watering results in poor flower display. Root trimming is necessary because the plants develop a long taproot early and should be planted out in 1-2 weeks.

Soaking in hot water improves seed germination. Seeds germinate 4-10 days after sowing.

C. abbreviata commonly occurs in Acacia-Commiphora bushland, becoming rare in woodland or wooded grassland. Usually found on anthills and clayey soils. The long pod cassia is moderately fast growing, drought tolerant and can withstand moderate frost. The mature trees are fire resistant, however young seedlings are vulnerable.

Propagated by seedlings and wildings. Seeds are sown in a sand:compost mixture (1:1) and should be kept warm and moist. It is better to sow seed directly into polythene bags or into the ground.

Erosion control:  This deeply rooting tree is important in soil conservation and erosion control.

Young branches are browsed by wildlife, the fruit pulp and seeds are popular with birds.

Tree a useful source of charcoal and firewood.

Timber:  Timber heavy (896 kg/cu. m), dark brown, coarse-grained heartwood with pale blotches, used in house construction.

Shade or shelter:  It provides shade.

Tannin or dyestuff:  Stem bark is used in dyeing.

Medicine:  Root decoction used in treating gastrointestinal disorders, malaria, gonorrhoea, pneumonia, uterus complaints and as a purgative. Stem bark used to treat dysentery, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, toothache, blackwater fever, abdominal pains and as an abortifacient. Smoke of burnt branches inhaled to relieve headaches. The laxative activity of most Cassia spp. is linked to the anthraquinone emodin and its associated glycosides. Methanolic extracts of the stem bark antagonized responses to acetylcholine and serotonin in a concentration-dependent manner.

Ornamental:  C. abbreviata is a showy tree with a beautiful yellow bloom, persisting fruit pods and good form. It is an ideal choice for gardens and avenues and interesting tree to train as a bonsai.

Soil improver:  The slow decomposing leaves are ideal for mulching.

Intercropping:  Has great potential for intercropping, deeply rooting, therefore is unlikely to compete with crops for mineral nutrients and water.

Other services:  The smell of crushed C. abbreviata leaves is said to drive snakes from their holes.