Limestone cassia
Cassia timoriensis
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 6-15 m tall. Young plant parts have golden hairs. The leaves are compound with leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 4-10 cm long. The leaflets are oblong. They are 12-20 pairs and these are 2-3 cm long by 0.5-1 cm wide. The flowers are bright yellow. They occur as equal stalked flowers along a stalk and at the ends of branches. The fruit is a pod 7-9 cm long and 1 cm wide. It is flat and shiny and dark brown.
There are 100 Cassia species. This group has been revised to a smaller more consistent group. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in deciduous forests especially on calcareous soils. It is very cold sensitive.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand
How it is used for food
The young leaves and flowers are eaten.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Kanthom thet prey, Khee-lek-lued, Kratum thet prei