CASSIA CHAIVLECRISTA. SENSITIVE PEA. I 75 



regions are immigrants from more southern climes, during the 

 long ages past. Of the immense number that inhabit the 

 American continent, less than a dozen have advanced into the 

 limits of the United States ; and some of these, as for instance C. 

 Occidentalism perhaps within comparatively recent periods. If, 

 however, our Cassia Chamcscrista was originally tropical, it has 

 become a famous traveller, for it has made itself at home in 

 every part of the Union, east of the Rocky Mountains, up to 

 Iowa, and Massachusetts. Prof. Porter, indeed, found it grow- 

 ino- near Denver, where, in all probability, it ventured since the 

 advent of civilization to Colorado, and it is a good illustration of 

 its travelling capacities. It will, no doubt, soon establish itself in 

 that hot region, for In the East it flourishes best In dry, gravelly, 

 or sandy places, showing no signs of dissatisfaction, except that 

 in the middle of very hot days the leaves droop a litde, recover- 

 ing, however, very soon after the sun's decline from the meridian. 

 N. P. Willis, in his poem, "The Shunamite," says, that when 

 Hagar went forth with Ishmael — 



" It was a sultry day of summer time, 

 The sun poured down upon the ripen'd grain, 

 With quivering heat, and the suspended leaves 

 Hung motionless." 



And had this scene been laid in the United States, our Cassia 

 Chamcccrista would, undoubtedly, have been one to do justice to 

 the poetry of that sultry day. 



The specimen from which our drawing was made is of 

 Massachusetts growth, and is very much smaller than when found 

 further south ; but it Is selected as enabling us to give a complete 

 plant on one plate. In the South It Is very bushy and somewhat 

 trailing ; and it grows remarkably vigorous, even in poor, sandy 

 soil. For this reason it has been used for sowing and ploughing 

 down as a " green manure " In barren ground, and in this capacity 

 has become quite famous. It varies very much in regard to the 

 bushy or erect habit In different locations, and, indeed, in many 

 other respects, chiefly in regard to the spots on the petals of the 



