447 
Been dirtinguimed by the name of Alexandrian Senna, or Sena. 
Monf. Blondel, who was French Conful at feveral fea ports of the 
Levant, informs us, that the true Senna grows only in the woods 
of Ethiopia and in Arabia ; for that the Senna, which was brought 
from Saide and Tripoli was carried there by the Caravans, 3 and 
the negative teftimony of Alpinus, who in his Lib. de plantis yEgypti 
does not notice Senna, may feem to nrengthen this opinion. But 
HafTelquift found this plant growing fpontaneoufly in upper Egypt 
the aflertion of Mr. Blondel is not to be implicitly received, 
The Senna italica, or blunt-leaved Senna, is a variety of the 
Alexandrian fpecies, which by its cultivation in the fouth of Franc 
(Provence) has been found to affume this change - x c it is lefs purgativ 
than the pointed-leaved Senna, and is therefore to b 
dofes ; it was employed as a cathartic by Dr. Wright at Jamaica,. where 
d 
i;iv <^ii in iai |i 
grows on the fand banks near the fea. e 
Senna appears to have been cultivated in England in the time of 
Parkinfon f ( 1640) ; and Miller tells us, that by keeping thefe plar 
in a hot bed all the fummer, he frequently had them in flower, b 
adds, it is very rarely that they perfect their feeds in England/ 
There can be little doubt however but that fome of the Britiih pof- 
feffions may be found well enough adapted to the growth of this 
etable, and that the patriotic views of the Society for 
Arts, &c. which has offered a reward to thofe who fucceed in the 
attempt, will be ultimately accomplished. 
The leaves of Senna, which are imported here for medicinal ufe, 
have a rather difagreeable fmell, and a fubacrid bkterilh naufeous tafte: 
they give out their virtue both to watery and fpirituous menftrua, 
■ 
a Savary r Dift.. it. 1537- 
b Refa^p. 532. Bergius fays, u Senna fponte provenit ih.iEgypto fuperiorl, & colli- 
untur folia a rufticis Arabibus, poftqnam femina matura produxit planta foliaque penitus 
fere exaruerunt. Hi Senna m vendunt principi (Scheie) fuo, qui illam Cairum mittitj 
emendam ab illo, in quem monopolium derivavit cohors janizarorum. Hie vero Sen- 
nam poftea vendit Europseis. Sic demum Senna aegyptiaca v revera optima, ad ofiicinas 
noftras migrat." M. M. ^..338. See alfo.Haflelqiiifty 1. c. 
c Vide v Gouan's Letters to Salvador Soliva in Dif. Sabre el Sen de Efpanna. 
Madrid. 1774. 
d Cofte and Willemet EJJais fur quelque plant es indigenes Medic, a Nancy, p. 25. 
e See Loud. Aded. *Journ. vol.~%. 
f Vide, Park. Theat, p. 225, cited in Hort. Kew- g See Di£t. 
communicating 
