This evergreen tropical tree is the Siamese Cassia, traditionally known as Cassia siamea. Botanists now generally accept the name Senna siamea.

It has a rounded crown and compound leaves made up of several pairs of smooth, oval leaflets. The foliage is fairly dense, which has made the tree popular for shade, screens, and roadside planting.

The flowers grow in upright clusters at the ends of the branches. They are bright yellow, with five petals and prominent darker stamens. A tree may produce many flower clusters at once, creating a strong display above the green foliage.

After flowering, long, flat seedpods develop. They begin green and become dark brown as they mature, often remaining on the tree for some time.

Siamese Cassia is native to South and Southeast Asia but has been widely planted throughout the tropics. It grows quickly and tolerates heat, drought, and relatively poor soil.

The tree has also been used for its hard, dark wood, sometimes called pheasantwood. However, its leaves, pods, and seeds should not be treated as ordinary food, because parts of the plant may be harmful if eaten without specialized preparation.

Even when it is not flowering, its broad crown and neatly arranged leaflets make Siamese Cassia an attractive shade tree. When the yellow blossoms appear, it becomes much easier to understand why it has been planted so widely.