African Laburnum
Cassia sieberiana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree that loses its leaves during the dry season. It grows 10-20 m high. The bark is dark grey and wrinkled. The leaflet stalks are 20-30 cm long with 7-10 pairs of leaflets. They are 5-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The flowers are bright yellow and attractive. They are in groups that can be upright or hanging. These groups are 30-50 cm long. The fruit is a long pods. It is dark brown and 40-80 cm long. It has division between the seeds.

There are 100 Cassia species. This group has been revised to a smaller more consistent group. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is best in well-drained humid soils. It needs at least 500 mm of rain each year. It grows in savannah woodland and palm groves. It is often along river banks. It grows in the Sahel.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The sweet extract from the stems is eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds. The seeds need to be soaked in boiling water then left to cool down before sowing. Plants can be cut back and allowed to regrow.

Its other names

Local names

Bentape, Betame, Bissindje, Bussindja, Canafistra, Canafistula, Caquecequece, Kiskatigrai, Marga, N'tame, P'fonante, Sama-sidjam, Samba-cintrao, Samba-sinhangho, Samba-sinjandje, Sambassinhague, Sambassinhame, Sambisinhanha, Sandjone, Sanfone, Sanjoue, Sindjam-o, Tinan, Untame

Synonyms

Cassia kotschyana Oliv.;