''Cassia leptophylla'' is a tropical tree species in the genus '' Cassia'', which is

indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology) In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often populari ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. It is named gold medallion tree and has yellow flowers that bloom intermittently throughout the year, spawning

seedpod This page provides a glossary of plant morphology. Botanists and other biologists who study plant morphology use a number of different terms to classify and identify plant organs and parts that can be observed using no more than a handheld magnify ...

s that are rectangular in cross section and rattle festively. It is recognized by its thin green

foliage A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, f ...

with glossy green pinnate leaflets. The fruit is a long thin seedpod with four sides.

Native distribution

''Cassia leptophylla'' is native to southeastern Brazil.

Uses

This tree does not have many uses, except as a decorative tree or as a

laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

, something common to the genus ''Cassia''.

Warning

Seeds are poisonous if ingested. Parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.

Gallery

File:Flowers of the Cassia leptophylla tree.jpg, Cassia leptophylla flowers File:Cassia leptophylla tree.jpg, Cassia leptophylla tree

References

External links

* * Plants described in 1837 Endemic flora of Brazil leptophylla {{Caesalpinioideae-stub