268 xlvii. § cjesalpiniejE (oliver). [Cassia. 



10. CASSIA, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 571. 



Calyx-tube very short, segments 5, imbricate in aestivation. Petals 

 5, subequal or the anterior larger, imbricate. Stamens 10, all perfect 

 and subequal or 3 or 5 wanting or imperfect ; anthers uniform or 2 or 

 3 anterior larger, 2-celled, dehiscing by terminal pores or longitudi- 

 nally more or less from the apex. Ovary sessile or stipitate, frequently 

 arcuate ; style short or long ; stigma terminal ; ovules several or 

 numerous. Legume terete or flattened, indehiscent or 2-valved, with 

 or without transverse internal septa ; rarely winged or appendaged. 

 Seeds albuminous flattened at right angles to or parallel with the 

 valves, rarely rhomboid-subterete, transverse or rarely longitudinally 

 disposed in the legume. Cotyledons plane or sinuous. — Trees, shrubs, 

 or herbs. Leaves abruptly pinnate ; common petiole frequently with 

 sessile or stipitate glands, either solitary near the base or interpetiolu- 

 lar. Stipules various. Flowers yellow or red, in axillary or terminal 

 racemes, corymbs or fascicles ; occasionally solitary or geminate in the 

 axils. 



A very large genus of warm and tropical countries, both of the New and Old World, 

 especially abundant in the former. Of the following species, 13 are endemic, and 4 or 

 5 appear to be introduced or commonly cultivated or perhaps naturalized. 



A. Sepals obtuse. Perfect stamens usually 7, of which 2-3 anterior are much larger, 



with elliptical or ovate anthers not exceeding 2-3 lines, dehiscing longitudinally. 



Legumes elongate, terete, or slightly compressed, indehiscent or rarely dehiscent, 



divided by transverse partitions into numerous 1-seeded cavities ; seeds horizontal, 



flattened at right angles to the axis of the legume. (§ Fistula, DC.) 

 Bracts usually present at time of flowering. 



Eacemes 4-15 in.; pedicels 1^-2 in. Leaflets glabrous, 



obtuse, or broadly-pointed 1. C. Sieberiana. 



Eacemes short or subcorymbose ; bracts deflexed; pedicels 

 2^-3 in. Leaflets glabrous, obtusely acuminate. (Longer 

 filaments distinctly dilated) 2. C. Arereh. 



Eacemes short or corymbose ; bracts hairy, crowded. Leaf- 

 lets pubescent at least beneath, obtuse 3. C. abbreviata. 



Bracts or deciduous before flowering. 



Extremities, inflorescence, and young leaves pubescent. 

 Eacemes \-2 ft. Leaflets obtuse 4. C. Kotschyana. 



Glabrous. Eacemes 3-6 in. Leaflets acute 5. C. Mannii. 



B. Sepals obtuse. Perfect stamens usually 7, of which 2 or 3 anterior are longer, with 



curved linear anthers 3-6 lines long. Staminodia usually 3, posterior. (§ Senna, 

 Benth.) 

 Flowers in corymbs collected at the extremities. Outer sepals 

 much smaller. Three anterior stamens longer. Seeds hori- 

 zontal, flattened at right angles to the valves. 



Leaflets 6-9 pairs, acute or acuminate. Interpetiolular 

 glands sessile. Stipules ^-cordiform. Bracts from 



cordate-apiculate to ovate-cymbiform 6. C. Petersiana. 



Leaflets 7-9 (-12) pairs, very obtuse. Interpetiolular 

 glands ovoid or oblong. Stipules subulate. Bracts ' 



caducous l.C goratensis. 



Leaflets 7-12 pairs, obtuse. . Interpetiolular glands slen- 

 der stipitate 2-3 lines. Stipules and bracts caducous 8. C. Tettensis. 



