Cassia Siamea, Kased - 0.5 kg Seeds

Senna siamea (syn. Cassia siamea), known in India as Kassod or Kased, is a fast-growing evergreen tree of the legume family with a dense, rounded crown and erect panicles of bright yellow flowers. It is one of the most widely planted multipurpose trees in the tropics.

It is grown for fuelwood and charcoal, for shade and shelter in plantations and along avenues, and as an agroforestry and windbreak species; its durable wood is used for poles, posts and small timber. It is also a popular roadside ornamental for its near year-round yellow bloom. It performs well across the warm plains of southern, central and eastern India on a wide range of soils. Note that its leaves, flowers and seeds are toxic to pigs and poultry, so it is not fed to non-ruminant livestock.

• Family: Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae)
• Native region: Southeast Asia
• Mature height: 10-15 m
• Growth rate: Fast

The seeds have a moderately hard coat. Soak them in water for 24 hours (or give a brief hot-water dip) until they swell, then sow about 1-2 cm deep in seed trays or polybags filled with a sandy, well-drained mix. Germination is quick at around 7-14 days in warm weather; transplant the seedlings to the field at the onset of the monsoon once they are 25-40 cm tall.