Cassia in Malayalam
Cassia here means the flowering tree, not the spice. കൊന്നപ്പൂ (konnappoo) is the flower of Cassia fistula, the golden shower blossom that is central to the Vishu festival in Kerala, so the word carries a strong seasonal association.
The flower of Cassia Fistula.
വിഷുവിന് മുറ്റത്ത് കൊന്നപ്പൂ വിരിഞ്ഞു.
vishuvinu muttaththu konnappoo virinju.
The cassia flowers bloomed in the yard for Vishu.
All Malayalam words for “cassia”
- കൊന്നപ്പൂ (konnappoo) — The flower of Cassia Fistula.
- തകര (thakara) — Kind of pulse(Cassia Tora).
കൊന്നപ്പൂ is the golden cassia flower, while തകര names a different plant of the same family, Cassia tora, a pulse-bearing herb. Neither is the cassia bark sold as a spice.
Common questions
What is cassia in Malayalam?
For the golden cassia flower, കൊന്നപ്പൂ (konnappoo). For Cassia tora, the plant is തകര (thakara).
Why is konnappoo so well known in Kerala?
Its yellow blossom is the flower arranged for Vishu, so the word appears every spring in festival writing and conversation.