CASSIA. 



LEGUMINOS.K. DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



The derivation of the word is uncertain. 



MOST of these plants require artificial heat in this 

 country, but the Maryland Cassia, Cassia Marilandica, 

 in a dry soil and not too much exposed, will live abroad. 

 It grows four or five feet high, the blossoms are of a 

 pale yellow, and grow in loose spikes. It is a native of 

 North America. 



The senna of the apothecaries is obtained from an 

 Egyptian plant belonging to this genus. 



The poets' Cassia is of another genus, (Osyris alba): 

 it has been asked why the epithet alba has been given to 

 this plant, the flowers being yellow, and the berries red. 

 The Cassia is described by the poets as white : 



A dimpled hand, 



Fair as some wonder out of fairy-land, 



Hung from his shoulder : like the drooping flowers 



Of whitest Cassia, fresh from summer showers." 



KEATS'S Poems, p. 24 



Some have sup]x>si>d the true Cassia to be the Cneorum, 

 but that also has yellow blossoms ; others have believed 

 that the Romans had two sorts of Cassia, one of which was 

 the Cneorum, and the other a species of wild cinnamon. 

 In this case, the white blossom is understood, but not 

 the reason for calling the Osyris alba. 



