CASSANDRA CASSINIA 303 



bed. Both are propagated by cuttings or by seeds, and thrive in a moist, 

 peaty soil. 



CASSIA MARYLANDICA, Lmnceus. WILD SENNA. 



LEGUMINOS^E. 



Out of several hundred species of Cassia known (and they occur in all 

 the warmer parts of the globe except Europe), this only has any claim to 

 rank as hardy in Britain, and even it has only semi-woody shoots, which 

 spring from a woody root-stock, and die back to ground-level during 

 winter. A second species, C. corymbosa, is genuinely shrubby, and will 

 perhaps succeed in the far south-western counties of England and Ireland ; 

 it is a very handsome shrub, with large clusters of rich yellow flowers. 



C. 'marylandica sends up erect, pithy shoots 2 to 3 ft. high each year, 

 furnished with pinnate leaves 6 to 10 ins. long, each composed of an even 

 number of leaflets, usually seven to nine pairs. Leaflets i to 2 \ ins. long, 

 oblong, the midrib terminating in a bristle. Racemes 2 to 3 ins. long, 

 terminal or springing from the axils of the leaves; the almost regular 

 flowers crowded towards the end, J in. across ; petals yellow, nearly alike ; 

 anthers a conspicuous dark purple. Pod 3 to 4 ins. long, covered with 

 grey hairs when young. 



Native of the south-eastern United States ; introduced to England in 

 1723. It flowers from the end of July until October, and is very hand- 

 some then. A sheltered position should be found for it, and, as it is not 

 absolutely hardy in all winters, it is wise to cover the root-stock with a few 

 inches of light litter in severe weather. It can be propagated by breaking 

 up the old root-stock just as growth recommences in spring, and if the 

 pieces can be given a mild bottom heat and re-established in pots for 

 planting out later, so much the better. But imported seeds can be 

 obtained, and they, of course, given the best and simplest means of 

 increase. The plant has certain cathartic properties resembling those 

 of senna. 



CASSINIA. COMPOSITE. 



In our open grounds this genus is at present represented by three 

 evergreen shrubs, introduced from New Zealand. Other species are 

 found in Australia and S. Africa. They have a certain resemblance to the 

 heaths in habit and in their small, crowded, narrow leaves, but bear their 

 numerous tiny flowers (or rather flower-heads) in flattish terminal clusters. 

 Such beauty as the flower-heads possess is given by the white, recurved 

 tips of the inner bracts. The three species here included are very much 

 alike in general appearance, and are not easily distinguished on paper. 

 C. fulvida, however, the best and hardiest of the three, may generally be 

 recognised in company with leptophylla by the yellowish cast oY the 

 upturned branch and the viscid leaves and twigs. C. leptophylla is grey- 

 white instead of yellow, and not viscid. They can all be propagated 

 easily by late summer cuttings, and will grow in a sandy loam or peaty 

 soil. Even C. fulvida, the hardiest of the three, is apt to get browned in 

 winter, and may need pruning back in spring. 



