Long-tail cassia
Cassia abbreviata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-15 m tall. The small branches are brown. They have ridges along them. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are compound. The leaflets are opposite in 8-10 pairs. The flowers have a scent. The fruit is a dark brown to black pod. It is 20-100 cm long by 1.5-2 cm wide. It has many seeds. The seeds are dark brown and 12 mm long by 10 mm wide and 3 mm thick. They are broadly oval and flattened and enclosed in pulp.

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and can grow on termite mounds. It grows between 1-1,520 m above sea level. It can tolerate drought. It is damaged by frost, especially when young. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows in areas with a rainfall between 700-800 mm per year (var. beareana).

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are purgative.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds are best soaked in boiling water for 20 minutes or left in warm water overnight then sown. Seeds germinate in 4-10 days. It has a long taproot so is best sown directly into the ground or transplanted early.

It grows slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Dhuumood, Isihaqa, Mululwe, Munsoka-nsoka, Muremberembe, Mutipanoua, Muvheneka, Nanueba, Ntache, Ofothi, Salmasalmi, Sjambok pod, Yusur

Synonyms

Cassia beareana Holmes; Cassia granitica Baker; Cassia abbreviata var. granatica (Baker. f.) Baker. f.;