PULSE FAMILY. 



109 



17. CAS'SIA, L. SENNA. 



[An ancient name of obscure derivation.] 



Flowers perfect ; Sepals 5, scarcely connected. Petals 5, unequal, spread- 

 ing, not papilionaceous. Stamens mostly 10, some of them often imper- 

 fect ; anthers opening at apex. Herbs : leaves equally pinnate, with a 

 gland near the base of the petiole. 



* Leaflets large; stipules deciduous: the lower anthers fertile, the 3 upper 

 ones deformed and sterile. 



1. C. Marilan'dica, L. Perennial ; stem erect, leaflets 6-9 pairs, 

 ovate oblong ; petiole with a club-shaped gland near the base ; racemes 

 axillary, the upper ones somewhat paniculate ; legumes at first hairy 

 at length smooth. 

 MARYLAND CASSIA. Wild, or Amerjcan Senna. 



Stem 3-4 feet high, rather stout, branching. Leaflets 1-2 inches long, petiolulate- 

 common petioles 1-2 inches in length below the leaflets, with an obovoid subsessile aland 

 on the upper side. Racemes pedunculate, those in the upper axils forming a sort of ter- 

 minal leafy panicle ; flowert yellow, often becoming a dead white. Legumes 3 - 4 inches 

 long, villous when young, compressed, somewhat curved, often sinuate on the edges from 

 partial contractions ; seeds ovate-oblong, separated by a kind of transverse partitions. 



Low grounds along streams : frequent August -October. 



Obs. This very showy species is found in most parts of the United 

 States ; its leaves possess properties similar to those of the imported 

 Senna of the shops which is also furnished by several species of the ge- 



FIG. 78. Wild Senna (Cassia Marilandica) , a short raceme in the axil of an abruptly- 

 pinnate leaf. 



