Carago: common names: Carao, Caragüe, Caragua, Bukut. Official name: Cassia Grandis
Carago is a deciduous subcanopy
tree (15-30 m) notable for its striking, pink pastel-colored flowers as well as its persistent, strong-smelling, and cylindrical woody pods. Each woody, indehiscent fruit is up to 75cm
long, wide (5-6 cm), cylindrical in shape and contoured by elevated striations and ridges. Inside, transversely oriented compartments with papery walls contain flattened, round,
tan-colored seeds (1.5 cm) as well as large amounts of thick, strong-smelling, dark-colored
honey. The pungent
honey found abundantly in carago pods is sometimes mixed with milk and used as a refreshment. It is said to have medicinal properties and, among other things, to help fight anemia and add iron to the
blood. A liquid antiseptic can be obtained from carago roots and leaves, while its flowers are used in other household remedies. Carago is widely planted as an ornamental
tree.
Carago trees range from southern
Mexico, to Surinam and Brazil.
Carago