F A B A C E JE. 



261 



petals are unequal, the Fig. 135. 



two lower largest. The 

 stamina have yellow fila- 

 ments and brown anthers. 

 The legume is pendulous, 

 long, narrow, arcuated, 

 mucronate, blackish, with 

 a few scattered, reddish 

 hairs, and containing 

 many seeds. 



This beautiful and 

 showy plant is found 

 in most parts of the 

 United States, in moist 

 situations, and along 

 water-courses. It flow- 

 ers from June to the 

 latter part of August. 

 It has attracted some 

 attention as a substi- 

 tute for the foreign 

 Sennas ; and, from the 

 trials made, with it, is 

 well deserving of re- 

 placing them for most 

 purposes. It has been 

 employed by many 

 practitioners with good 

 effect, and is cultivated 

 by the Shakers to some 

 extent, and it is from 

 them that the shops 

 are usually supplied. 

 The general opinion 

 seems to be, that it is 

 inferior to the Alexan- c. mariiandica. 



drian Senna, requiring 



a larger portion to produce the same effect, but of this there is no direct 

 evidence ; on the contrary, those who have given it the fairest trial, con- 

 sider it equal to the generality of the imported article. Much, however, 

 depends on the time of collecting it ; if this be done before the seeds be- 

 gin to ripen, the active principle does not appear to be developed to its full 

 extent ; and it is evident, from an inspection of the foreign Sennas, that they 

 are not picked until this time, as the seed-vessels found among them are 

 usually in a mature state. Another cause for the less active properties of the 

 native drug is the absence of the leaves of the argel, always mixed 

 with the Alexandrian, and which add much to its action on the system. The 

 only fair mode of judging of the comparative merits of the two is by making 

 trials of them, free from all extraneous substances. When this is done,. it 

 will be found, I am satisfied, that the American Senna is fully entitled to as 

 high a rank as is the Alexandrian or the East Indian, and may be substituted 

 for them in every case with advantage. 



A great number of other species of Cassia have been employed in medi- 



