108 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
Cassia bacillaris. SEN DE PALILLOS. 
A trailine herb growing in waste places both in the lowlands and in the moun- 
tains. (Stahl, 3: 110.) 
Cassia bicapsularis. SEN DEL PAIS. . > ; 
Probably an introduced species; known in Porto Rico only from the vicinity of 
Fajardo, but distributed elsewhere in tropical America and in Madeira. (Stahl, 
3: 109.) 
Cassia biflora. RETAMA. 
A fine-leaved species with numerous yellow flowers; reported by Bello from the 
vicinity of Cabo Rojo. (Stahl, 3: 114.) 
Cassia diphylla. See Chamaecrista diphylla. 
Cassia eglandulosa. See Cassia emarginata. 
Cassia emarginata. 
With rather long, straight, somewhat turgid pods. (Stahl, 3: 114.) 
Cassia fistula. CaNAFISTULO. 
A tree sparingly introduced in Porto Rico. Itis said to be a native of upper 
Egypt and is valued for the sake of the purgative pulp in which the seeds are 
embedded. The cylindrical pods are 15 to 20 inches long. (Stahl, 3: 105.) 
In some countries the bark is said to be used for tanning. 
This tree must have been very early introduced into the West Indies, as Acosta 
states that the fleet in which he returned to Spain in 1587 carried 45 hundred- 
weight of the fruit for medicinal purposes. 
A low tree common in all the Antilles and on the American continent; about 20 
feet high with a trunk 9 or 10 inches in diameter. Furnishes a strong wood, red- 
dish in color, of ordinary weight and hardness, but without use. (Grosourdy, 2: 
369.) 
Cassia grandis. CANAFISTULA CIMARRONA, 
A tree attaining the height of 10 meters, said by Stahl to be found in Porto Rico in 
the wildstate, though rarely; itisalso native on the Isthmus of Panama and other 
parts of tropical America. The pulp of the pods is said to be used as a substitute 
for that of Cassia fistula. The flowers are rose-colored and appear in April in large 
lateral racemes. (Stahl, 3: 106.) 
A fine tree 45 to 54 feet (14 to 17 meters) high with a dense top and trunk 12 to 
18 feet (4 to6 meters) long and 12 to 15 inches (30 to 37 centimeters) in diameter. 
Furnishes a very handsome wood, very strong and very resistant, of ordinary 
weight and hardness, fibrous in texture and fine-grained; specific gravity 0.816. 
Although not at present utilized, Grosourdy considers this wood very suitable 
for carpenter work and perhaps for cabinetwork. (Grosourdy, 2: 370.) 
oe 
Cassia glandulosa. See Chamaecrista glandulosa. 
Cassia laevigata. SEN DEL PAIS. 
Shrubby; leaves very similar to those of C. occidentalis. Reported from Adjun- 
tas. (Stahl, 3: 108.) 
Cassia obtusifolia. See Cassia tora. 




Cassia occidentalis. HEpDIONDA. 
This is the common tropical weed which has been variously reported from the ~ 
West Indies and from Florida as a coffee substitute. Even in Porto Rico this ; 
idea has long been prevalent, and the seeds are regularly on sale in the markets, 
and small quantities have been exported. The usual price is 12 centeros (7.2 cents) 
per pound, Analysis has failed to find caffein or any similar alkaloid, and the™ 
‘* coffee ** must be ranked with that made from burnt peas and the like. Tonic” 
and febrifugal properties have been ascribed to this drink, and it has also been 
