Introducing Cassia fistula, Golden Shower tree, a stunning flowering plant that belongs to the family Fabaceae. Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it is a medium-sized tree that grows up to 60 ft tall with fast growth. The tree is immensely popular as an ornamental plant and is also used in herbal medicine. With its pendulous racemes of yellow flowers, it is a favorite amongst bees and butterflies, especially carpenter bees, who are known to pollinate the flowers. The tree is also of cultural and national significance in Thailand, where it is the national tree and flower. It is the state flower of Kerala, India, and associated with the Mullai region of Sangam landscape in ancient Tamil literature. The fruit is a legume, which is believed to have purgative properties in Ayurvedic medicine. With little research conducted in modern times, the Golden Shower is a fascinating and beautiful tree with a rich cultural significance.
