Common Name: Cassia indigo. Tamil Name: Naarinchi
Cassia indigo is shrub that grows to a height of about 2 meters. Commonly seen around Western Ghat slopes of Maharashtra and it bears attractive bright pink colored flowers. This plant is not common in Nilgiri area of Western Ghats. The leaves are single pinnate; 10 pinnae are seen; and the axis ends in a pair of leaflets. The entire leaf stalk including the rachis measure around 19 cm in length. The leaflets are arranged in an opposite manner; the leaflet stalk measure around 2-3 mm and the leaflet measure around 4 cm in length. The inflorescence is in the form of a long raceme measuring more than 15 cm in length. The flowers are pea shaped and petals are bright pink in color and have a very short flower stalk (1 mm). The calyx is pink in color. The fruit is in the form of a cylindrical pod bearing several seeds. Commonly seen in mountain slopes and grassland areas around Satara district. This indigenous species has ornamental potential.
