Cassia venusta
F. Muell.
wikimedia · cc-by-sa
Mark Marathon (via Wikimedia Commons)
Mark Marathon (via Wikimedia Commons)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Grubs
Grubs found on this plant are eaten.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in northern coastal areas in Australia.
Australia*,
Countries: Australia
How to Identify
A small shrub. It grows 1-3 m high and spreads 1-1.5 m wide. Young shoots have long silky hairs. The leaves are 15-20 cm long and the 6-15 pairs of leaflets are 2-4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The flowering stalks are 40 cm long. The fruit is a pod 5-7 cm long by 1 cm wide and flat.
How to Grow
Plants are grown from seed.
Production
Plants are very fast growing.
Notes
There are 100 Cassia species. This group has been revised to a smaller more consistent group. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
References (6)
- Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 189
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 475
- Fragm. 1:165. 1859
- Hall, N. et al, 1972, The Use of Trees and Shrubs in the Dry Country of Australia, AGPS, Canberra. p 207
- Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 51
- Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 157
