CASSIA MOSCHATA. 



319 



1863. 



Cassia 

 Fistula. 



Cassia 

 brasiliana. 



namely, Senna leaves and the pods called Cassia Fistula, in 

 connection with the second of which I beg leave to submit to 

 the Linnean Society the following observations. 



Although the name Cassia Fistula, which is the common 

 commercial designation of the drug, is properly applied to 

 the ripe legumes of Cassia Fistula, L., only, it sometimes 

 designates those of C. brasiliana, Lam., and, as I shall presently 

 show, those also of a third species of Cassia. The legumes of 

 the first-named, .which, on account of the laxative saccharine 

 pulp contained between their transverse septa, find a place 

 in many of the pharmacopoeias of Europe, are familiar to most 

 botanists ; they are straight or slightly curved, cylindrical, 

 smooth, indehiscent woody legumes, 1^ to 2 feet long by f to 

 1 inch in diameter, and of a deep chocolate-colour. The legumes 

 of C. brasiliana, which are seen in commerce but rarely, differ 

 from those of C. Fistula in being compressed and thicker, and 

 in having two prominent ridges marking their ventral suture and 

 one similar ridge their dorsal; from each suture ramify pro- 

 minent nerves, giving a rough surface to the legume, whicli 

 is increased by a cracking and exfoliation of the epidermis. 

 The third form of the drug was distinguished several years ago Third spAies 

 by Professor Guibourt, of Paris, who described it under the no f c ^f b^ 

 name of Petite Casse de I'AmJrique, observing that it differs Guibourt' and 

 from ordinary Cassia Fistula in being of smaller size, in con- 

 taining a pulp of pale colour, and austere, astringent, yet 

 saccharine taste, in the seeds being separated by thinner septa, 

 and in the extremities of the legumes being apiculate instead 

 of rounded. M. Guibourt regarded these pods as derived from 

 a variety of Cassia Fistula, L., or possibly from a different 

 species. My friend Mr. Morson has also observed some Cassia 

 pods of unusually small size imported into the London market 

 from New Granada, and which were apparently identical with 

 M. Guibourt's drug. In some of them, which he was kind 

 enough to give me, I could detect no differences which appeared 

 sufficient to distinguish them from the legumes gf Cassia Fistula, 

 L., to which plant I referred them, attributing their slight 

 variation to want of culture or a poor soil. A few months ago, 



