Cassia javanica
(pink shower)

Pictures

Picture	Title	Caption	Copyright
Title Shade tree Caption Copyright ©Rafael T. Cadiz	Shade tree		©Rafael T. Cadiz
Title Bole Caption Copyright ©Rafael T. Cadiz	Bole		©Rafael T. Cadiz
Title Foliage Caption Copyright ©Rafael T. Cadiz	Foliage		©Rafael T. Cadiz
Title Flower and pods Caption Copyright ©Rafael T. Cadiz	Flower and pods		©Rafael T. Cadiz
Title Line artwork Caption 1. tree habit 2. flowering twig 3. flower 4. pod Copyright PROSEA Foundation	Line artwork	1. tree habit 2. flowering twig 3. flower 4. pod	PROSEA Foundation

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Cassia javanica L.

Preferred Common Name

• pink shower

Other Scientific Names

• Cassia agnes (de Wit) Brenan
• Cassia bacillus Gaertn.
• Cassia bacillus Roxb.
• Cassia bartonii F. M. Bailey
• Cassia fistula “sensu Blanco, non Merr."
• Cassia javanica subsp. bartonii F.M.Bailey
• Cassia javanica subsp. pubiflora (Merr.) K.Larsen
• Cassia javanica subsp. renigera (Wall. ex Benth.) K. Larsen
• Cassia megalantha Decne.
• Cassia nodosa Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.
• Cassia renigera Wall. ex Benth.
• Cathartocarpus javanicus Pers.

International Common Names

• English: apple blossom; apple blossom shower; Burmese-senna; Javanese cassia; pink cassia; rainbow shower
• Spanish: acacia rosada; cassia rosada; lluvia de rosas
• Chinese: zhao wa jue ming

Local Common Names

• Cambodia: bo pruk; bôprùk
• India: apple blossom cassia; Java cassia; Java rani; nodding cassia
• Indonesia: bobondelan; boking-boking; trengguli
• Indonesia/Java: trengguli
• Indonesia/Sumatra: bobondelan; boking-boking
• Laos: khoun loy
• Lesser Antilles: stinking toe
• Malaysia: bebusok; busok-busok
• Philippines: antsoan
• Thailand: kalalphruk; kalapaphruk; lak khoei lak kluea
• Uganda: apple-blossom cassia
• USA: Java shower; pink lady
• Vietnam: b(ut)c(aj)b

EPPO code

• CASJA (Cassia javanica)
• CASJN (Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa)

Subspecies

• Cassia javanica subsp. agnes
• Cassia javanica subsp. javanica
• Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa
• Cassia javanica subsp. renigera

Trade name

• johar

Summary of Invasiveness

C. javanica is an attractive small tree widely commercialized for its wood and as a shade and ornamental tree. It has escaped from cultivation and naturalized in many regions of the world, but especially in the tropics. Currently, it is listed as invasive in Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic (Kairo et al., 2003; Villaseñor and Garcia-Espinosa, 2004; FAO, 2014). Even when C. javanica is not very aggressive, it has the potential to displace and out-compete native vegetation in invaded areas. 

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Fabales
•                         Family: Fabaceae
•                             Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
•                                 Genus: Cassia
•                                     Species: Cassia javanica

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Fabaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants. This family includes about 745 genera and 19,500 species which can be found throughout the world growing in a great variety of climates and environments (Stevens, 2012). The genus Cassia is included in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. This genus contains about 300 species occurring in all continents. Cassia species show a great diversity in habit, ranging from annual herbs to perennial trees. The species Cassia javanica is very polymorphic with a wide distribution across Asia. Irwin and Barneby (1982) consider C. javanica as a complex series of geographical varieties that are found across their areas of natural distribution. Within its natural distribution range, C. javanica forms vary in the shape of their leaves, the colour and size of their flowers, and their chromosomal number. Currently, seven subspecies of C. javanica are recognized (Flora of China, 2014; USDA-ARS, 2014):

1.    Cassia javanica subsp. agnes: India, Laos, Thailand
2.    Cassia javanica subsp. bartonii: New Guinea
3.    Cassia javanica subsp. javanica: From Indonesia to the Philippines
4.    Cassia javanica subsp. microcalyx: Indonesia including Kalimantan and Sumatra
5.    Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa: From Myanmar to Malaysia
6.    Cassia javanica subsp. pubiflora: Philippines
7.    Cassia javanica subsp. renigera: Myanmar.

Description

Deciduous tree, usually more than 10 m tall, sometimes to 30 m. Leaves 15-40 cm; leaflets 5-12 pairs, 2-8 × 1.2-3.3 cm, both surfaces pilose or abaxially pilose, adaxially sparsely puberulent, base slightly asymmetric, apex acute, obtuse, or shortly acuminate. Inflorescence a raceme or panicle, terminal on leafy shoots or lateral on short side branches, up to 16 cm long, many-flowered; flowers with sepals 4-10 mm long, green to dark red, petals 15-35 mm long, whitish to reddish or buff, stamens 10, 3 longer ones with filaments 2 cm long, 4 shorter with filaments about 1 cm long and 3 reduced with filaments about 1 cm long and minute anthers. Fruit a pendent, terete legume, 20-60 cm long, 1-1.5(-2.5) cm in diameter, indehiscent. Seeds numerous, embedded in a flat disk, 6.5-8.9 mm long, 5.6-7.0 mm wide, and 2.5-5.5 mm thick (Orwa et al., 2009; Flora of China, 2014). 

Plant Type

Distribution

C. javanica is native to Asia including China, Indonesia, and Malaysia (ILDIS, 2014; USDA-ARS, 2014). It is widely cultivated all over the tropics and is naturalized in Africa, Asia, Australia, America, the West Indies and on several islands in the Pacific Ocean (see distribution table for details; Broome et al., 2007; Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012; ILDIS, 2014; PROTA, 2014; USDA-ARS, 2014). 

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

History of Introduction and Spread

C. javanica has been commercialized worldwide. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental in India and Africa, where it has become naturalized. In Mexico it was first recorded in the wild in 1976 (Sanchez-Blanco et al., 2012). In the West Indies, it was collected in 1906 in Barbados, 1909 in Trinidad and Tobago, 1923 in Puerto Rico, 1930 in St Thomas, 1959 in Cuba and the Dominican Republic and in 1967 in Bermuda (New York Botanical Garden Herbarium records). 

Risk of Introduction

The risk of introduction of C. javanica is moderate. This species is widely cultivated mainly in tropical countries and has successfully escaped from cultivation. Plants produce large numbers of seeds which can remain viable even after more than 3 years in hermetic storage at room temperature (Niembro, 2002; PROTA, 2014). 

Habitat

C. javanica has a wide ecological amplitude and can be found growing at lower elevations (up to 400 m) in open forest but it can also occur in closed evergreen primary forest, deciduous monsoon forest and in savanna-like habitats. It is often cultivated as an ornamental in gardens and along roadsides and is naturalized in secondary forest and disturbed sites close to locations where it has been planted (Toruan-Purba, 1999; Orwa et al., 2009). 

Habitat List

Biology and Ecology

Genetics

The chromosome number reported for C. javanica is 2n=28 (George and Bhavanandan, 1993). C. javanica is a very polymorphic species and several subspecies are distinguished (Toruan-Purba, 1999).

Reproductive Biology

In East Java, C. javanica flowers in October-December and fruits in the dry season. In Peninsular Malaysia it has been observed flowering and fruiting in a mast fruiting year (Orwa et al., 2009). In Florida, (USA) it has been recorded flowering from April to September (USDA-NRCS, 2014).

Physiology and Phenology

C. javanica is a perennial tree. Seeds average 5700-8400 dry seeds/kg. Seed storage is variable and storing dry seeds for over one year is also reported. Seeds start to germinate after 7 days and 80% of the seedlings appear within 14-30 days (Orwa et al., 2009).

Environmental Requirements

C. javanica thrives best in humid places with well-drained and deep soils. It grows best in areas up to 400 m elevation with mean annual temperature ranging from 19°C to 25°C and mean annual rainfall ranging from 650 to 2400 mm (Orwa et al., 2009). It is not resistant to fire, but tolerates drought and shade. The different subspecies of C. javanica show preferences for either dry or moist habitats on a wide variety of soil (Toruan-Purba, 1999; Orwa et al., 2009). Within its native distribution range, C. javanica has been reported growing on fertile volcanic loams, and on marshy, sandy and limestone soils (Orwa et al., 2009). 

Climate

Latitude/Altitude Ranges

Air Temperature

Rainfall

Rainfall Regime

Soil Tolerances

Soil drainage

• free

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• heavy
• light
• medium

Means of Movement and Dispersal

C. javanica spreads by seed. Each reproductive tree may produce numerous seeds. The germination rate varies from 50% to 80% under optimized conditions (Niembro, 2002; Orwa et al., 2009). 

Pathway Causes

Pathway Vectors

Impact Summary

Environmental Impact

C. javanica is considered an invasive woody plant in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua (Kairo et al., 2003; Villaseñor and Garcia-Espinosa, 2004; FAO, 2014). It has the potential to invade both disturbed and natural undisturbed areas in lowland tropical forests where it can displace and outcompete native vegetation. Because it is a shade tolerant species, it also has the potential to invaded mature undisturbed forests (Orwa et al., 2009). 

Risk and Impact Factors

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Tolerant of shade
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Long lived
• Fast growing
• Has high reproductive potential
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year

• Altered trophic level
• Damaged ecosystem services
• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Modification of nutrient regime
• Modification of successional patterns
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Allelopathic
• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Rapid growth

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Uses

C. javanica is widely cultivated as a shade and ornamental tree along streets and in parks and gardens. It is also planted as shade trees in agroforestry systems and plantations (PROTA, 2014). The wood is used for general construction, furniture and cabinet making. It yields a lightweight to heavy hardwood with a density of 400-875 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content. The wood is hard and strong. It works well and finishes well. The bark is used for tanning leather, but the amount of tannin is comparatively low (Orwa et al., 2009). C. javanica is also used in traditional medicine. The ripe pods and seeds are used as a traditional laxative throughout the Malesian area. In Thailand, bark and seeds are also used as antipyretics (Toruan-Purba, 1999; Orwa et al., 2009).

Uses List

Environmental

• Agroforestry
• Amenity

Materials

• Dyestuffs
• Tanstuffs
• Wood/timber

Medicinal, pharmaceutical

• Traditional/folklore

Ornamental

• Seed trade

Wood Products

Charcoal

Roundwood

• Building poles

Sawn or hewn building timbers

• Carpentry/joinery (exterior/interior)
• For light construction

References

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Links to Websites

Contributors

25/11/14 Original text by:

Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA

Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA

Distribution Maps