State flower of Kerala

The state flower of Kerala is The Golden Shower Tree or Indian laburnum Cassia locally known as Kanikkonna in the family Fabaceae, native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka. The flowers are of ritual importance in the Vishu festival. The medium-sized tree blooms in a particular season during the Medam month of Malayalam calendar (April-May), when Keralites celebrate Vishu.

It is a medium-sized tree growing to 10-20 m tall with fast growth. The leaves are deciduous or semi-evergreen. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. It blooms in the month of May; flowering is profuse, with trees being covered with yellow flora, with almost no leaf being seen.

Common name: Amaltas, Golden shower tree, Indian Laburnum • Hindi: अमलतास Amaltas • Kannada: ಕಕ್ಕೆ Kakke, ಆರಗು Aaragu, ಆರಗಿನ Aaragina, ಕೊಂಡೆ, ಕೊಂದೆ Konde • Manipuri: ꯆꯍꯨꯢ চহুঈ Chahui • Tamil: கொன்றை Konrai • Malayalam: Vishu konnai • Marathi: बहावा Bahava • Mizo: Ngaingaw • Bengali: সোনালী Sonali, Bandarlati, Amultas • Urdu: املتاس Amaltas • Gujarati: ગરમાળો Garmalo • Sanskrit: आरग्वधः Aaragvadh, राजवृक्षः Raajavriksha शम्पाकः Shampaak, चतुरङ्गुलः Chaturangul,

The golden shower tree is the national flower of Thailand and is called Dok Khuen or Rachapruek; its yellow leaves symbolize Thai royalty.