Forage Plants of Australia. 25 



ORDER LEGUMINOS^E. 



CASSIA CIKCINATA, BENTIL 



" Circular-podded Cassia." 

 Flora Austr., Vol. II., p. 286. 



AN erect bushy shrub of several feet in height, which is glabrous or hoary with 

 a minute silky tomentum. The leaves are all phyllodineous, without leaflets, 

 linear-terete, or very slightly vertically flattened, and 1 inch to 1^ inches 

 long. The flowers are arranged on short stalks in the leaf axils ; these are 

 succeeded by almost circular pods, which are about ^ an inch broad when ripe. 

 This plant is found in the arid interiors of Queensland and New South 

 Wales, and in some situations it is fairly plentiful. It will withstand a 

 phenomenal amount of heat and dry weather ; but this may be accounted 

 for by the plant offering so little leaf surface for transpiration. It seems 

 to be one of those plants which nature has specially designed for growing in 

 arid localities. The most remarkable feature of this cassia is its phyllodes, 

 that is a kind of leaf which results from an enlargement and flattening of 

 the stalk and the loss of leaflets. This peculiarity, if it may be termed 

 such, has only been observed in one other Australian species. All the rest 

 (about 30) have pinnate leaves. During the most adverse season of drought 

 and heat this shrub affords herbage for stock, sheep being particularly fond 

 of the young seed-pods, which it bears in profusion if left undisturbed for a 

 time. If the seed-pods are allowed to mature they contain numerous seeds, 

 but when thoroughly ripe they are excessively hard ; and previous to sowing 

 they should be steeped in water for a few days, otherwise germination will 

 be slow in taking place. The seeds should be sown during the early spring 

 months, and where it is intended that the plants are to remain, as the young 

 plants are very impatient of removal. 



There are about 30 species of the genus Cassia indigenous in Australia. 

 Some of the n are elegant trees, but most of them are charming shrubs when 

 in flower. The flowers of most of these plants are yellow, and the seed- 

 pods cylindrical or flat. The leaves of some of the Australian Cassias are 

 medicinal, and allied to the true senna of commerce. We have known 

 botanical collectors and bushmen to use these leaves for medicinal purposes. 

 The largest of Australian Cassias is C. brewsterii, which grows in the northern 

 coastal districts of New South Wales, and also in Queensland, where it 

 attains a height of 40 ft. It is a most beautiful tree, with large, glossy, 

 deep-green pinnate leaves. The flowers are arranged in racemes about 6 

 inches long, and these are succeeded by cylindrical pods over 1 foot in length. 

 This grand tree should be planted in every garden where the climate is suitable. 



