Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Cassia marksiana | Order Fabales Genus Cassia Rank Species | |
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Similar Barklya, Cupaniopsis newmanii, Bosistoa transversa, Cassia roxburghii, Lepiderema pulchella | ||
Cassia marksiana, Marks cassia, is an Australian rainforest tree growing in far north eastern New South Wales and in south eastern Queensland. The common name is in honour of Dr. C. F. Marks, an early botanical collector. Other common names include cigar cassia, brush cassia, and native laburnum. The Brunswick River is considered the southernmost point of natural distribution.
Its habitat is seaside and lowland subtropical rainforest, which is almost completely destroyed, with only small remnant patches remaining. Less than 100 trees are known to exist in the wild in some 20 locations. Consequently, it is listed as endangered.
Description
It is a small to medium-sized tree, up to 25 m tall and a stem diameter of 50 cm. The trunk is not buttressed, with grey-brown wrinkled bark. Compound leaves are alternate on the stem, with four to 16 leaflets, 2.5 to 7.5 cm long, usually opposite the leaf stem. Leaflets vary in shape, mostly lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate and broader. Leaf veins easily noticed.
Showy and attractive yellow flowers form on racemes from September to November. A long, thin pod matures from June to October, 30 cm long and 2 cm in diameter.