116 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



leaves are alternate, simple, entire or two-lobed, with membranous 

 or scaly caducous lateral stipules. The flowers form short, simple 

 or compound racemes (fig. 87), inserted on the branches, or on 

 ruo-ose prominences from the boughs and trunk. 1 



VI. CASSIA SERIES. 



Cassia? (Fr., Casse; figs. 92-105) has irregular hermaphrodite 

 flowers. The receptacle is slightly convex or flat on top, or even 



Cassia Jloribunda. 



Fro. 92. 

 Habit (i). 



slightly concave. The calyx consists of five sepals, nearl) always 

 unequal and quineuncially imbricated in the bud. As the flower is 

 resupinate, one is anterior; this is sepal 1, which is the smallest of 

 all, as may be seen in anv of these species of Cassia which are 

 commonly cultivated in our flower gardens, especially C. jloribunda* 



1 These prominences correspond to old leaf 

 axils. These, as in numerous generations of 

 inflorescences, follow each other every year ; and 

 their axes, which remain very short, are srradually 

 confounded into a more or less prominent ma>s. 

 Thus we have to do with successive series of 

 inflorescences occupying the same seat. 



2 Cassia, T., List., 619, t. 392.— L., Gen., 

 n. 514. — Adans., Fam. des PL, ii. 317. — J., 

 Gen., 348.— Gjetctn., Frucf., ii. 313, t. 1 16, 

 147.— Lamk, Diet., i. 641; Suppl., ii. 124; 



///., t. 332.— DC, Prodi:, ii. 489.— Collad. 

 Monogr, des Causes, Montpell., 1816, icon. — 

 Spach, Suit, a Buffun, i. 113. — Vogel, 8yn. 

 Gen. Cassia;, in Linnaa, xi. 651. — ENDL., Gen., 

 n. 6781.— B. H., Gen., 571, 1003, n. 326 (inch : 

 Herpetica Rriirn., Bactyrilobium \V., Cathar- 

 tocarpus Pebs., Chamacrista E. Me v. (nee 

 DC), Grimaldia Schr., Psilorhegma Vog., 

 Macleaya Montrouz., Senna T.). 



3 Cay., ex Collad., op. cit., 88. — DC, Prodr., 

 n. 22. — C. corymbosa Get., Bee. 124. 



