793 



CASCARILLA. 



CASTANEA. 



791 



ever givea a very different account of it. He says : " This tree is 

 highly valuable to the natives of the countries where it grows hi 

 plenty ; it yields them during the hot season an immense quantity 

 of toddy, or palm-wine. I have been informed that the best trees 

 will yield at the rate of 100 pints in the 24 hours. The pith, or fari- 

 naceous part, of the trunk of old trees is said to be equal to the best 

 sago ; the natives make it into bread, and boil it into thick gruel. I 

 have reason to believe this substanpe to be highly nutritious. I have 

 eaten the gruel, and think it fully as palatable as that obtained from 

 the Malay countries." This remarkable tree ia not uncommon in 

 this country in hot-houses where palms are cultivated. 



CASCARILLA, au aromatic bark yielded by more than one species 

 of Croton, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Euphor- 

 biocece. [CROTON.] 



CASEARIA, one of the five genera of plants constituting the 

 natural order Samydocea. Several of the species are used medici- 

 nally. The leaves of C. ulmifolia are astringent, and in the Brazil* 

 are applied to recent wounds. A decoction of the leaves of C. lingua, 

 called by the Brazilians Cha de Frade and Lingua de Fin, is used in 

 fevers and inflammatory disorders. C. Oitrimjera is used as an external 

 application on account of its astringent properties. (.'. Anavinga, an 

 Indian species, is bitter. The leaves of C. eacvlenta are eaten, but the 

 root is bitter and purgative. (Lindley, Vegetable Kingdom.) 

 CASHEW-NUT. [AJJACARDIACE*:.] 



CASSA'VA, or Manioc, a nutritious fecula obtained from the roots 

 of Jatropha or Janipha ifanihot, and some allied species. This plant 

 belongs to the natural order Euplwrbiacta, and abounds in a highly 

 poisonous juice, which contains Hydrocyanic or Prussio Acid, so that 

 very small doses produce the most dangerous consequences. The 

 acid however is easily driven off by heat, and consequently there is 

 no practical difficulty in procuring the nutritious substance in a pure 

 state. In order to effect this the roots are peeled, well washed, and 

 then ground between millstones till they are reduced to the state of 

 paste. This is subjected to pressure for the purpose of depriving it 

 as far as possible of the juice ; the residue is placed in vessels over a 

 brisk and regular fire, aud continually stirred until it becomes dry ; 

 it then acquires a granular appearance, is gradually cooled, and after- 

 wards packed in barrels, when it may be preserved for a great length 

 of time. Half a pound of this substance daily ia said to be sufficient 

 to support a vigorous man. Tapioca is a preparation of Cassava, but 

 contains less nutritive matter. Tapioca consists almost entirely of 

 starch. 



CA'SSIA (from the Greek Kaaaia), a genus of plants belonging to 

 the natural order Legwminotcc. It consists of a large number of 

 species, chiefly inhabiting the tropical or temperate parts of the 

 world, and including among them the plants that produce the Senna 

 leaves so commonly employed as a purgative. The genus Cattia 

 belongs to the sub-order Ciesalpiniece of Legwmmota, and is character- 

 ised by De Candolle as follows : Calyx consisting of five sepals which 

 scarcely adhere at their base, but are more or less irregular. Petals 

 five, unequal in size ; stamens ten, distinct from each other ; the 

 three lowest being the longest, the four intermediate ones shorter and 

 straight, and the three uppermost deformed ; such of the anthers as 

 are perfect open at the point ; ovary stalked, usually curved ; legume 

 variable in form ; the species consist of trees, shrubs, or mere herbs ; 

 the leaves are simply and abruptly pinnated, and usually bear glands 

 on their stalks; the leaflets are opposite each other. Between 200 

 and 300 species are described by botanists. 



C. aculifoliii, a small under-shrub, with ovate lanceolate sharp 

 pointed leaflets, yellow flowers in terminal erect racemes, and 

 compressed velvety legumes an inch long and half an inch broad. 

 It is found wild in Egypt, Sennaar, and Abyssinia, and forms an 

 important article in the commerce of those countries. It is chiefly 

 sent to Alexandria for shipment, whence it has gained the name of 

 Alexandrian Senna among the drug-merchants. It is considered the 

 most valuable of all the sennas. 



C. obovata, Aleppo Senna, has obovate very-blunt leaflet*, and 

 curved pods, with a very slight covering of down. The flowers are 

 pale yellow. It is common in the same countries as the last, and 

 mixed with it in commerce ; it however chiefly constitutes the 

 Aleppo Senna. 



C. lanccolata. Leaflets very narrow and acute; pods piano 

 compressed, straightiah, a little tumid in the middle. Found wild 

 in Arabia, whence it is exported under the name of Senna of Mecca. 

 It is a good deal cultivated in India, on which account, aud from its 

 being usually shipped for Europe from Indian ports, it has acquired 

 the name of East Indian Senna in the market. As a species it 

 appears to differ very little if at all from C, acutifolia. 



Of the different species of Catsia mentioned above only the leaves 

 are used in medicine. C. Fistula and other species are now referred 

 to Cat/tart ocarput. [CATHAHTOCAHPU8.] 



The leaflet* of neveral different species of Cattia belonging to the, 

 section Senna constitute the various kinds of Senna called Senna 

 leaves. In addition to the leaflets, the leaf-stalks and pods are 

 frequently present, especially in the Alexandrian Senna, which contains 

 also the leaves and pods of Tepliroiia Apottinea, and the leaves, bu( 

 rarely the follicles, of Ctfnantkum Arghel, Delile (C. olcafolium 

 Nectoux), a plant belonging to the natural order Apoeynacea 



which possesses deleterious properties. The leaves of this last-named 

 )lant constitute two parts in ten of the Senna of Alexandria. The 

 Tripoli Senna is free from it, as is likewise the Trinivelly Senna, 

 which is now the best and cheapest in the markets of this country, 

 and should always be preferred, as much of the griping tendency of 

 common Senua is due to the presence of the Argel leaves. The Senna 

 Leaves met with in the continental markets or shops are frequently 

 adulterated with the leaves and berries of the Coriaria myrtifolia, a 

 very poisonous plant. 



When free from adulterations, Senna furnishes a most valuable 

 purgative medicine ; but when impure, its action ia accompanied with 

 nausea, griping, and other unpleasant symptoms. It is desirable 

 therefore to free it from impurities before administering it or sub- 

 jecting it to the action of water to form an infusiou. [SENNA, in ARTS 

 AND Sc. Drv.] 



CASSIA BUDS. The unexpanded flowers, when they have 

 attained about a fourth of their complete size, of a species of Cinna- 

 momum, are collected and sold under this name. Much diversity of 

 opinion exists respecting the particular species of plant which yields 

 this article. Professor C. G. Nees von Esenbeck (who ia perhapa the 

 best authority) says it is chiefly C. aromaticum (Nees), and partially 

 C. didce (Nees), Laurut dulcis (Roxb.), Cinnamomum Chinense (Blum.); 

 while Dr. Th. Fr. Ludwig Nees von Esenbeck ascribes it to Laurut 

 Tamala (Hamilton, 'Linn. Trans.' xiii. p. 556, the L. Cassia, 'Hort. 

 Beng.'), and Dierbach to the L. Cubeba, (Lour.), which last supposition 

 is at variance with the statement of Louriero (' Flora Cochiueusis,' 

 p. 310), respecting the action of the berriea of that species. 



Cassia Buda have the appearance of naila with heads of different 

 sizes and shapes, according to the period of growth when collected. 

 But an artificial process is employed by the Chinese collectors, of 

 pressing the top against a flat hard body, by which the ovary or fruit 

 is prevented fulling out. Externally they are of a dark or grayiah- 

 brown ; the fruit, which is within, is of a bright brown. The taste 

 and odour resemble cinnamon. By distillation they yield a heavy 

 yellowish-coloured oil. It was at one time supposed that an inferior 

 sort, nearly devoid of taste, which ia met with in commerce, was the 

 genuine, which had been previously deprived of its oil ; but Martius 

 showed that this was a spurious kind, which is distinguished from 

 the true by having the upper part of the calyx marked by six slits or 

 incisions. It is moreover not so round aa the true sort, and is 

 furnished with a longer foot-stalk. It should be remembered that 

 the term Cassia used here has no relation to the genus which yields 

 the Sennas of commerce. [CASSIA.] 



The uses of Cassia Buds are the game as those of cinnamon and 

 cloves. 



CA'SSICUS, a genus of Passerine Birda, of the family Canirostrei, 

 allied to the Beef-Eaters and Starlings. They are distinguished, 

 among other characters, by then- large, conical, and sharply pointed 

 beaks. The species of Cauicus are all inhabitants of America. They 

 are gregarious, and feed upon grain and insects. 



CA'SSIDA, a genus of Coleopterous Insects of the family Cassidiadce. 

 It has the following characters : Body generally somewhat oval or 

 orbicular, and sometimes nearly square : thorax semicircular or 

 forming the segment of a circle, the margins projecting considerably 

 beyond and covering the head ; the elytra also have the margins 

 projecting, and forming as it were a kind of shield to the body; 

 mandibles with several small notches ; the anterior maxillary lobe as 

 long as the inner one. 



CASSIDI'ADjE, Leach (Cattidarifc, Latreille), a family of Coleop- 

 terous Insects of the section Cyclica of Latreille. [CYCLICA.] 



The species of thU family are distinguished by their having the 

 antennae rather short, filiform or slightly thickened towards the apex, 

 placed on the anterior part of the head, and almost close together. 

 The legs are short and contractile ; the tarsi are flattened, soft, and 

 velvet-like beneath ; the penultimate joint bilobed, the lobes completely 

 inclosing the terminal joint ; body generally very flat. 

 CASSOWARY. [STHDTHIONID*.] 



CASTA'NEA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order 

 Corylacea, one of the species ia the Sweet Chestnut. From the 

 similarity in their name one would be disposed to believe that the 

 genus to which Horse-Chestnuts belong was nearly related to this ; 

 they are however extremely different in everything except the un- 

 important circumstancea of the fruit of both being prickly ; and even 

 in regard to this, their resemblance is more apparent than real, for the 

 prickly part of the fruit of C'astanea is an involucre, while that of 

 the Horse-Chestnut ia a pericarp ; and the ao-called seeds of Caatanea 

 are seed-vessels, while the parts which in the Horse-Chestnut correspond 

 with these are really seeds. [^Escui.us.] 



C. vesca (C. mOgarii, Lam.), the Sweet Chestnut, or Spanish 

 Chestnut, is a deciduous tree of considerable size, with long shining 

 serrated sharp-pointed leaves, clusters of long spikes of pale greenish- 

 yellow unisexual minute flowers, having no corolla, and fruits con- 

 sisting of a roundish prickly husk or involucre, technically called a 

 cupula, and analogous to the cup of the acorn or the beard of the 

 filbert, in which are contained one or more dark-brown ovate sharp- 

 pointed nuts, each of which conceals a large single seed, and is tipped 

 by the remains of several rigid styles. The seeds contain a large 

 quantity of nutritive starchy matter, of a sweet flavour, on which 



