432 D1ADELPHIA DECANDR1A 



1U. CA88IA Tribb. Stamens distinct. Cassiea-u DC. 



353. CASSIA. /,. JVtttt, Gen. 398. 

 [An ancient name of obscure etymology.] 



Sepah 5, scarcely united at base, somewhat unequal. Petal* 5, une- 

 qual. Stamens mostly 10, free, unequal,— the 3 lower ones longest, 

 rostrate, — 4 middle ones short, straight,— 3 upper ones shortest, some- 

 times with abortive deformed anthers ; anthers opening at apex. Ovary 

 stipitatc, often curved. Legume many-seeded. Leaves even-pimiate ; 

 the common petiole often glanduliferous. 



1. C. maiulaxbica, L. Stem erect ; leaflets in 7 to 9 pairs, ovate- 

 oblong, mucronate, nearly equal ; gland near the base of the petiole 

 obovoid ; racemes axillary, many-flowered, pedunculate, shorter than 

 the leaves ; legumes compressed, linear, arcuate, hirsute, finally smooth- 

 ish. Beck, Bot. p. 94. 



Maryland Cassia. Vulgo — Wild Senna. 



Root perennial. Stem erect, 3 to 4 feet high, herbaceous, branching, somewhat 

 pilose. Leaflets 1 to 2 inches long, ami 1 third to 3 fourths of an inch wide, ovate- 

 oblong, often nearly elliptic, mucronate, smooth, slightly ciliate, op]>osite (rarely 

 with a terminal odd one), on short petioles; common petioles 1 to 2 inches long 

 below the lowest pair of leaflets, sparingly pilose, with an obovoid subsessile gla?ul t 

 on the upper side, half an inch to an inch and half from the base,— the gland some 

 times didymous,— and often accompanied with a leaflet, or situated between iho 

 lowest pair of leaflets; stipules subulate-linear, near half an inch long, pilose- 

 ciliate. Racemes pedunculate, in the upper axils, forming a sort of terminal leafy 

 panicle; peduncles about half an inch long, stout, pilose ; pedicels half an inch 

 to 3 quarters in length, each with a lance-linear pilose-ciliate bract at base. Sep. 

 als oblong, obtuse, smoothish or sparingly pilose, minutely ciliate, greenish-yellow. 

 Petals yellow, often becoming a dead white, veined, obovate-cuneate, about twice 

 as long as the sepals,— the 3 upper ones erect, the 2 lower ones depending, diver- 

 ging. Stamens unequal,— 3 lower ones longest, 3 upper ones shortest, with tlattad 

 abortive anthers, 4 in the middle above the ovary ; anthers dark greenish-brown, 

 finally nearly black. Ovary declined, villoee. Legume 3 or 1 inches long, and 

 about 1 third of an inch wide, much compressed, somewhat curved, linear, often 

 sinuate on the margins, or with partial contractions, hairy, finally nearly smooth. 

 Seeds numerous, compressed, ovate-oblong, separated by transverse partitions. 

 Hob. Low grounds ; banks of rivulets : frequent. Fl. August. Fr. Sept— Octo. 



Obs. This is quite ornamental, when in flower, and is often introduced into 

 gardens. The leaves afford a tolerable substitute for the Senna, of the Shops,— 

 which is also a species of Cassia. 



2. C. nictitans, L. Stem oblique, or procumbent ; leaflets in many- 

 pairs, oblong-linear, obtuse, mucronate ; gland on the petiole cup-shaped, 

 sub-pedicellate ; racemes lateral, super-axillary, few-flowered, sub-ses- 

 sile; stamens 5, nearly equal ; legumes hirsute. Beck, Bot, /;. 94. 

 Twinkling Cassia. Vulgo — Wild Sensitive Plant. 



Root annual. Stem 6 to 12 or 15 inches long, mostly oblique, slender, branching, 

 roughish-pubesccnt. Leaflets in 6 to 20 pairs, about half an inch lone, and i line 

 wide, nearly linear, obtuse, mucronate, smooth, oblique at base, subsessile ; coin* 

 mon petioles about 1 third of an inch long below the lower pair of leaflets, hirsute 

 with a cup-like or truncate gland on the upper side ; stipules obliquely ovau-lan ■ 



