Cassia.] xlvii. § c^esalpinie^ (oliver). 281 



laterally compressed or cristate between the pairs, gland sessile shallow- 

 saucer-shaped or flat below the lowest pair • leaflets from 10-80 pairs, 

 linear- or oblong*-falcate or nearly straight, usually with a distinct 

 oblique mucro 1—3 (rarely 8) lines long ; nervation not usually very 

 prominent, obliquely longitudinal. Stipules finely subulate, straight, 

 erect, from a lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate oblique base, persistent ; up 

 to J in. in length. Pedicels slender, axillary, solitary or 2 or 3 together, 

 unequal, usually from ^-1 in. Buds pointed. Sepals subequal linear- 

 lanceolate to oblong acute, and 3-4 (2—6) lines long. Petals subequal 

 in length shortly clawed or subsessile, elliptical to rotundate, obtuse. 

 Stamens all perfect (4-) 8—10, anthers linear much exceeding the fila- 

 ments, dehiscing by terminal or shortly extended longitudinal slits. 

 Legumes linear flattish 1^-2 in. (1-3 in.) long, 1|-2J lines broad. 

 Seeds oblique-rhomboidal compressed. — C. microphylla, Willd., DC. 

 Prod. ii. 505 ; C. geminata, v. Schum. et Thonn. PI. Guin. 208 ; C. 

 gracillima, Welw. Apont. Phyto-geogr. No. 88. 



Very common, although none of our numerous Tropical African specimens happen to 

 be from the Central region of the Continent, over which, however, in suitable localities 

 no doubt it is diffused. 



O. mimosoides extends through Tropical Asia to Australia, and may be conspecific 

 with some nearly allied Tropical American forms. 



C nictitans, Hochst. in Schimp. PI. Abyss., may prove identical with the American 

 species so named of Linnaeus, but we want more ample material to determine. I find 

 only 4 stamens in Hochstetter's plant. 



25. C. Kirkii, Oliv. Erect or ascending, simple or branched, vary- 

 ing in height to probably a few feet. Branches terete pubescent or pilose. 

 Leaves 3-6 in. long; common petiole pubescent or pilose -strigillose, 

 with a sessile gland below the lowest pair ; leaflets in 30-50 pairs, 

 linear or linear-oblong obliquely pointed mucronate, finely nerved, 

 about \ in. long, often with a glandular thickening at the sessile base. 

 Stipules persistent, lanceolate-subulate or subulate, \-\ in. long. Pedi- 

 cels hairy 2 or more usually together, supra- or extra- axillary, \-\ in. 

 long, with stipuliform bracts. Buds very acute. Outer sepals very acute, 

 4-6 lines long. Stamens 8-10 perfect; filaments very short ; anthers 

 linear, dehiscing at and near the truncate apex. Legumes linear, flat, 

 10-20-seeded, pubescent-pilose, 2^— 3 in. long, 2J-3 lines broad. 



Lower Guinea. Huilla, Angola, Dr. Welwitsch! 



Mozamb. Distr. Manganya hills, Drs. Kirk and Metier I 



Nearly allied to the American C. Chamcecrista, L., of which, at first, I took it to be a 

 variety. Mr. Bentham, however, who has recently completed a revision of this group 

 of American Cassias, considers the African plant as distinct. 



26. C. falcinella, Oliv. General characters of C. mimosoides. Stem 

 much branched, thinly patent-pilose. Leaves |-f in. long, the leaflets 

 8-11-jugate, decreasing much in size to the apex, excepting of the 

 lowest pair oblong-falcate obliquely apiculate with a strong mucro, 

 costa and nerves very prominent, the former almost marginal without 

 lateral nervures on the upper side, nerves from the lower side of the 



VOL. II. K 



