CASSIA. 



Leaves scattered, abruptly pinnate, 2 feet long. Leaflets opposite, from 

 8 to 14 pair, the exterior largest, linear-oblong, obtuse, or emarginate, 

 with a point, smooth, entire, veined ; from 3 to 6 inches long, and from 

 2 to 2 broad ; the lower pair more distant from the next pair than the 

 others above, nearly round and reflexed back on the stem or branches. 

 Petioles channelled, the channel large and formed by 2 thin, firm yellow 

 borders ; there is a cross-bar between each pair of leaflets, covered 

 with small dark-coloured bristles and there is no other gland. Stipules 

 auriculate, rigid, pointed, persistent. Racemes terminal and from the 

 exterior axils, long, sometimes bifid, nearly erect. Flowers numerous, 

 simple, large, yellow. Bracts large, 1 -flowered, oval, concave, yellow, 

 deciduous. Calyx coloured like the corolla. Legume horizontal, from 

 5 to 6 inches long, with a broad crenulated wing on each side. The 

 Telinga and Tamul physicians say that this plant cures all poisonous 

 bites and venereal outbreakings, and also strengthens the body. Fresh 

 leaves often employed to cure ringworm. 



543. C. occidentalis Linn. sp. 539. Swartz obs. 159. DC. 

 prodr. ii. 497. Bot. reg. t. 83. Macfady. f. jam. i. 344. 

 (Sloane ii. 1. 175. f. 3, 4.) West Indies ; common in Jamaica. 



An erect shrub, 3-4 feet high : branches few, simple, angular, with 

 2 furrows passing down from each side of the insertion of each petiole, 

 slightly scabrous from minute curved asperities situated in the furrows. 

 Leaflets shortly stalked, mucronate : petiole angular, furrowed, chan- 

 nelled above, with a small sessile gland near the insertion ; stipules 

 lanceolate, falcate. Racemes axillary and terminal, short, usually 

 3-flowered. Flowers yellow, stalked; bracts lanceolate. Pedicels \ 

 an inch in length, downy. Legume 4-5 inches long. A decoction of 

 the root said to be diuretic ; that of the leaves, taken internally, 

 and applied externally, to be useful in the cure of the itch, and other 

 cutaneous diseases, in the human subject, and of mange in dogs and 

 horses. The Negroes employ it in the preparation of their baths and 

 fomentations; and apply the leaves, smeared with a little candle grease, 

 to slight sores, as a substitute for adhesive plaster. Macfady en. It is 

 called Gajamarioba, in Brazil, and with C. falcata, L. and the Fedegozo, 

 or Cassia hirsuta, L.,is an extremely common plant, growing every where 

 near habitations, and spreading rapidly. The root greatly stimulates 

 the lymphatic system, and is therefore very beneficial in obstructions 

 and weakness of the stomach, and incipient dropsy, against which dis- 

 ease it is used as a diuretic. Martins. 



544. C. marilandica Linn. sp. pi. 541. Bigeloiu med. hot. 

 ii. t. 39. DC. prodr. ii. 498. (Dill hort. elth. t. 359.) -- Rich 

 soils near water from Carolina to New England. 



Stems 5 or 6 feet high, round, striated, slightly hairy. Petioles 

 with from 8 to 10 pairs of leaflets, which are oblong, smooth, mucronate, 

 somewhat hairy at the edges. On the base of the petiole is a large 

 ovate shining green gland, terminating in a dark point at top, which 

 is sometimes double. Flowers in axillary racemes, extending quite to 

 the top of the stem. Peduncles slightly furrowed, and marked with 

 minute, blackish, glandular hairs. Sepals yellow, oval, obtuse, the 

 lateral ones longest. Petals 5, Bright yellow, concave, very obtuse. 

 Stamens 10 ; the 3 upper have short abortive anthers ; to these suc- 

 ceed 2 pairs of deflexed linear anthers ; the remaining 3, or lower- 

 most, taper into a sort of beak, the middle one being shortest. Legumes 

 long, pendulous, linear, curved, swelling at the seeds, and furnished 

 261 s 3 



