LEGUMINOS/E. 337 



Sect. 1. Calif cine sepals obtuse. AntJiers ovate, hi- 

 rimose at the apex. Legumes terete, mult'docuhir 

 with transverse partitions ; cells filled with pulp : 

 seeds horizontal. 



1. * Cassia Brasiliana ? Horse Cassia. 



Leaflets 10-20-paired ovali-oblong equal at the 

 base submucronate at the apex piibeiuloiis above softly 

 tomentose-hairy beneath, younger leaves tomentose, 

 racemes axillary shorter than the leaf, legumes com- 

 pressed rugose very long. — De Cand. 



Cassia nigra seu fistiilosa secunda sive Cassia fistula Brasili- 

 ana, Sloaiie, II. 44? — C. foliis plurimis oblongis pinnatis, flore 

 nibello, siliquis niaximis, crassioribus, trinerviis, Browne, 223 ? 

 — C. Javanica, Luncm's Hort. Jam. I. 383 ? 



HAB. Cultivated. 

 - FL. January — March, 



2. Cassia fistula. Purging Cassia. 



Leaflets 4-6-paired ovate subacuminate glabrous 

 eglandulose, racemes lax ebracteated, legumes terete 

 straight subobtuse glabrous. 



Gcertn. Fruct. II. t. 147. f. 1. — Woodville, Med. Bot. t. 163. 

 — Lam. Bot. 111. t. 332. — Lunans Hort. Jam. I. 164. 



HAB. Not indigenous. Common in low warm situations. 



FL. April. 



This tree varies in size : it is sometimes low and irregular ; 

 at other times lofty and spreading, from 40-50 feet in height. 

 The leaflets are in some specimens distinctly acuminate. Ra- 

 cemes subsiniple, pendulous, making their appearance in the 

 spring, when the old leaves are shed, and previous to the 

 development of the new ones. The flowers are large, showy, 

 yellow, and slightly fragrant. 



This is a native of the East Indies, introduced into the warmer 

 parts of America, wliere it is now naturalized. The pods are 

 commonly exposed for sale in the Kingston market. The pulp 

 is of a shining brownish-black colour, and of a sweet taste. 

 It has the smell of decayed fruit ; is viscid and soluble in 

 water, .'^n extract is prepared by bruising the pods with the 

 seeds, dissolving in boiling water, straining through a horse- 

 hair sieve, and reducing by boiling to a proper consistence. 

 The dose is about an ounce or two of tiie extract, or double the 

 quantity of the pulp. It acts as a mild laxative, very pleasant 

 to the taste, and very gentle in its operation. It is contra- 



VOL. I. z 



