Flowers of Bali

Balinese name: Tengguli
Indonesian name: Tengguli
Latin name: Cassia fistula
Family: Leguminosae

The Balinese, who call the Indian Laburnum is Tengguli, do not make us of the pulp of the tree's pods although it is used in many parts of the world as a laxative. The wood is occasionally used for carvings but craftsmen say it is very hard and dulls their tools quickly. The flowers are used in offerings and the leaves are used to artificially ripen fruit. This procedure involves sealing fruit along with Tengguli leaves in a large clay pot. A smoldering coconut-shell fire is kept burning on top of this pot for a day or two until the moist heat inside matures the fruit.

Description
A tall tree distinguished by its beautiful shower of golden flowers.

Flowers
In a 35 cm truss with mature blooms near the base and spherical buds at the tip. Each flower is about 4,5 cm in diameter with five yellow petals. A green pistil curls prominently from the bloom. There are 10 yellow stamens and ten anthers.

Leaves
Medium to dark green leaflets in pairs along the stems; each is 12 by 7 cm and comes to a point.

Seeds
In long, cylindrical pods, up to 60 cm long, green when immature but dry and brown when ripe. The flat seeds are embedded an a dark brown pulp with a faintly sweet taste.

Flowering
The beginning of the rainy season, in October or November.