Tab. 7002. 

 cassia coquimbensis. 



Native of Chili. 



Nat. Ord. Leguminos.e. — Tribe CassiejE. 

 Genus Cassia, Linn.; (Benth.et Hoolc.f. Gen. PL vol. i. p. 571.) 



Cassia (Chamaesenna) coquimbensis ; fruticosa, glabra v. tenuiter puberula, foliis 

 eglandulosis, foliolis 4-6-jugis brevissime petiolulatis elliptico- v. obovato- 

 oblongis apice rotundatis muticis v. mucronatis, stipulis subulatis, racemis 

 laxifloris subcorymbosis, bracteis lineari-subulatis, floribus gracile pedicellatis 

 aurantiacis, sepalis oblongis obtusis, petalis raajoribns obovato-obcordatis 

 minoribus obovato-oblongis, staminibus perfectis 7, 2 ceteris multoties longiori- 

 bus, 5 minoribus filamentis subnullis, staminodiis parvis deformatis viridibus, 

 legumine lineari recto complanato mucronato, seminibus valvis parallelis. 



C. coquimbensis, Vogel. Syn. Cass. p. 27 ; Benth. JRevis. Cassia in Trans. Linn. 

 Soc. vol. xxvii. p. 540. 



C. flaccida, Clos. in Gay Flor. Cliil. vol. ii. p. 238. 



C. frondosa, var. /3, Hook. 8f Am. in Hook. Pot. Misc. vol. i. p. 210. 



This handsome species appears to be common in the 

 neighbourhood of Coquimbo, whence specimens have been 

 sent to Kew by many collectors. It belongs to a section 

 of the genus that are chiefly tropical American, and dis- 

 tinguished by the flattened 2-valved pods, with seeds 

 parallel to the septum. Many are well worth cultivation, 

 and some are almost hardy ; but the foliage being scanty, 

 they are only effective when in flower. The genus contains 

 no fewer than four hundred species. 



Tbe beauty of C. coquimbensis attracted the attention of 

 Mr. Ball, F.R.S., when visiting Coquimbo in 1883; and 

 who suggested the desirability of its being cultivated at 

 Kew. Application for seeds was in consequence made to J. 

 Crierson, Esq., H.B.M. Consul in Chili, who most obligingly 

 procured seeds, which were received at the Royal Gardens 

 in June, 1886 ; they were planted immediately on arrival, 

 and the plants raised flowered in September, 1887. 



Desce. A shrub, glabrous or finely sparsely hairy on 

 the branches and leaves beneath ; branchlets angled, her- 

 baceous. Leaves two to four inches long, rachis angled ; 



June 1st, 1888. 



