Kassod

Department of Botany

*Botanical name:-  Senna siamea

*Local name:-Kassod Tree, Siamese Cassia, Thailand Shower, Johar, Jahor, Busuk-Busuk, Petai Belalang, Blackwood Cassia, Bombay Blackwood, Iron Wood, Pheasant Wood, कसौद का पेड़.

*Family -  Fabaceae

Natural History-Leaves start to fall in late January and new leaf appears in late March or early April. Flowers in two distinct peaks, the major one after the rains lasting into December, a shorter one in May. Fruit ripen towards late February.

* Medicinal used –Traditionally Senna siamea is used for the treatment of typhoid fever ( टॉ़यफायड बुखार ), jaundice ( पीलिया ),Menstrual pain ( मासिक - धर्म में दर्द ) and is also used to reduce sugar level in the blood. 

Ethno medicinally  Kassod is used as laxative, blood cleaning agent, cure for digestive system and genitourinary disorders, herpes and rhinitis.

leave- Fresh and dried leaves (boiled for 20 min in 1L of water)  the treatment of infectious diseases.

 

*Environmental benefits - Afforestation and soil reclamation-

  Kassod tree is planted in degraded and dry areas for rehabilitation of forests, and it holds promise for reclamation of mined areas (aluminium mine tailings).

 It has been used in a afforestation program aiming at fixing the fly ash from a thermal power station in India

Erosion control and soil improver-

 Kassod tree planted in hedgerows increased topsoil infiltration, reduced runoff and prevented soil erosion.

Boundary or barrier or support, shade and shelter-

Kassod  trees planted in hedgerows provide live fence around food crops. It can be grown as a shade tree along roads and in cocoa, coffee and tea plantations. It is a useful windbreak and shelterbelt.