Cassia grandis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Cassia
Species:
C. grandis
Binomial name
Cassia grandis
L.f.
Synonyms
  • Cassia brasiliana
  • Cassia brasiliana var. tomentosa Miq.
  • Cassia brasiliensis
  • Cassia mollis
  • Cassia pachycarpa

Cassia grandis, one of several species called pink shower tree, and known as carao in Spanish, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the neotropics, that grows up to 30 m (98 ft).[1] The species is distributed from southern México, to Venezuela and Ecuador. It grows in forests and open fields at lower elevations, and is known to be planted as an ornamental.[2] In at least Costa Rica, its pods are stewed into a molasses-like syrup, taken as a sweetener and for its nutritional and medicinal effects, called Jarabe (or Miel) de Carao.

Growth

The tree's leaves are pinnate and deciduous, with 8-20 pairs of leaflets of 3–5 cm (1–2 in).[1][3] During the dry season, the tree sheds its old leaves, giving way to racemes of pastel pink flowers. The long, wood-like fruit capsules reach lengths of up to 50 cm (20 in) and have many seeds, which are separated by resinous membranes that taste somewhat like carob.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Datiles, M. J; Acevedo-Rodríguez, P (2014-04-04). "Cassia grandis (pink shower)". CABI Digital Library. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  2. ↑ "Cassia grandis". Useful Tropical Plants. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  3. ↑ "Cassia grandis - Plant Finder". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2023-12-30.


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