xi.viii. Li;fii\i iNos r. 421 



(lifferencos between the 2 |)hiiils. See also I'raiii, .Journ. As. .Sue. IJeng. 

 V. 00 (18U8) p. -175. 



Tlio plant is a native of Tropical America, but lias become more or less naturalized 

 in India. 



7. Cassia auriculata, Linn. ,Sp. PI. (1753) p. 379. A tall much- 

 branched .shrub ; bark siiiouth, reddish-brown ; brancblets finely pubescent. 

 Leaves 3-4 in. long ; rhachis densely fulvous-pubescent Avilh an erect 

 linear gland between each pair of leaflets ; stipules foliaceous, reflexed, 

 very large, rotundato-reniforin, produced at the base on the side next 

 the petiole into a long subulate point, persistent. Leatiets 8-12 pairs, 

 ■2—1 by j|-g in., slightly overlapping, obloiig-obovate, obtuse or emar- 

 ginate, niucronate, ghi[>rous or finely downy, dull green aI)ove, paler 

 beneath, base usually rounded ; petiolules yV ^'^^ '•^'^S- i'lowers large, 

 reaching 2 in. across, in terminal and axillary corynibose racemes ; 

 pedicels ^-1 in. loug ; bracts ovate, acuminate, caducous. Calyx glabrous ; 

 segments leathery, concave, the 2 outer much smaller than the other 3. 

 Petals with loug claws, crisped on the margin, bright yellow, veined 

 Mith orange. 8tamens 10, of which the 3 upper are reduced to 

 staminodes, the remaining 7 perfect, of which the 3 lower are larger 

 than the 4 lateral ones. Pods 3-5 by g-f in., flat, thin, papery, oblong, 

 obtuse, rancronate, pale brown, deeply depressed between the seeds, 

 having a crumpled appearance, transversely veined, pubescent. Seeds 

 10-20. n. B. I. v. 2, p. 203 ; Grab. Cat. p. 63 ; Dalz. & Gibs. p. 81 

 Benth. in Trans. Linn. Soc. v. 27 (1871) p. 547; Trim. El. Ceyl. v. 2, 

 p. loo ; Talb. Trees, Pouib. ed. 2, p. 144 ; VVoodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. 

 V. 11 (1898) p. 427; Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. 2, p. 215.— Flowers : 

 Jan.-July. Vehn. Tarvad; Aval. 



KoNKAN : Copt. Gehurne ! ; Deccan : abunrlant in sterile tracts, Graham, Cooke !, 

 Woodrow\; Poona, Coolcel; Khandesli, Kd<icw.ir/h\ Gujarat: very common, 

 Dalzell ^ Gihsim, Graham. S. M. Country: bharvvar, Coul,-e\ — Distrib. India (dry 

 regions iu the Central Provinces and the W. Peninsula); Ceylon. 



The bark is a most valuable tanning material and the seeds are used medicinally. 

 Trinien says that the leaves are used in Ceylon as a substitute for tea. 



8. Cassia obtusa, Ro.vh. Hort. Bi'mj. (1S14) p. 31. A diffuse 

 perennial herb 1-3 ft. high ; stems glabrous, pale green, obtusely 

 angular, striate, somewhat woody below ; branches spreading, glabrous 

 except the very young parts. Leaves 2-4 in. long ; rhachis glabrous, 

 striate, without glands between the leaflets; petioles 4-| in. Ion"; 

 stipules I in. long, obliquely lanceolate, very acute. ~ Leaflets 3-6 

 (rarely 7) pairs, |-1 by ^-h in., broadly oblong or obovate-oblong, 

 obtuse, niucronate, pale green and glabrous above, glaucous and glabrous 

 or puberulous beneath, base obtuse. Plowers in axillary peduncled 

 racemes which elongate in fruit and are ultimately longer than the 

 leaves; pedicels very short. Calyx g in. long, divided to the base; 

 segments oblong, obtuse, membranous, veined. Petals k in. lont^, 

 obovate-oblong, shortly clawed, yellow, reticulate with darker veins. 

 Perfect stamens 7, very unequal, the 2 or 3 lowest much the largest, 

 the staminodes minute; filaments short. Ovary densely pubescent. 

 Pods 1-1 1 by |-| in., flat, thin, papery, glabrous, rounded at both 

 ends, much recurved, transversely veined and with a line of prominent 

 longitudinal crests down the middle of the pod over the seeds, the 



