Cassia leiandra aka Powerful Rattle

Cassia leiandra, known as marimari, belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Its native range runs from Colombia to northern and northeastern Brazil. This tropical tree grows in wet forests on floodplains. It also grows near lagoons and canals that flood each year. It often appears in woodland that regrows after disturbance. People have grown it for fruit since before Columbus reached America.

This fast-growing tree sheds its leaves and forms a broad crown. The crown spreads wide but has sparse growth. Garden listings give a height and spread of 33 feet [10 metres]. Other accounts give heights of 20–46 feet [6–14 metres]. The trunk often twists as it grows. It measures about 0.7–1 foot [0.2–0.3 metres] across. Yellow flowers grow at the ends of branches. They give the tree value as a flowering garden plant. Insects pollinate the flowers, and the tree attracts wildlife.

The fruit is a long legume with pulp around its seeds. Pods measure about 1.3–2.3 feet [0.4–0.7 metres] long. Their width is about 0.1 feet [0.03 metres]. People eat the juicy pulp raw for its sweet, tart taste. They pick the pods while the seeds remain green. People gather fruit from wild trees and also grow fruit trees. The sources list no known hazards, but provide no detailed safety assessment. They report no medicinal uses.

Grow marimari in full sun with moist to wet soil. It does not grow in shade. It accepts loam and heavy clay, including soils that flood seasonally. Reported soil tolerance spans very acid to mildly alkaline conditions. PFAF lists USDA zones 9–11 and UK zone 10. The tree can fix nitrogen and may suit local forest restoration. Its role as a pioneer supports this use within its native range. Its flowers and edible fruit also suit food forest planting.

People use its wood locally for indoor building work and handles. They also make boxes and simple toys from it. The wood is soft and easy to work, but lacks durability. Growers raise new trees from seed, best sown soon after ripening. A hard seed coat can delay sprouting. Scarification and soaking can help water reach the seed. Seeds may sprout in two to four weeks in sunny nursery beds. Young plants grow quickly.