Cassia abbreviata, commonly known as sjambok pod or long-tail cassia, is a deciduous tree native to savannas, open woodlands, and grassland regions in east, northeast, south, and west-central Africa, including countries such as Botswana, DRC, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It typically grows to a height of 6-15 meters with a spreading crown. The tree is characterized by its striking long, cylindrical seed pods that can reach over 1 meter in length. It blooms with bright yellow flowers that are quite showy and appear in the warm season, attracting various pollinators.

Sjambok pod is valued for its ornamental flowers and unique seed pods, which can add interest to tropical and subtropical gardens. It is used in reforestation projects and as a shade tree in agroforestry systems. The tree prefers full sun and is drought-tolerant once established, thriving in well-drained soils. It is relatively low-maintenance but can be susceptible to pests like aphids and caterpillars. The condensed tannins found in the tree, such as proguibourtinidins and guibourtinidol, have potential medicinal uses, although more research is needed in this area.CC BY-SA 4.0