256 



Cassia, Linn. 



Cassia Absus, Linn. ; PL Trop. Afr. II. p. 279. 



III. — Buchoz, Herb. Col. Ameriq. t. 56 ; Jacq. Eclogae PI. Rar. 

 t. 53 ; Nees von Esenbeck, PI. Medic. Diisseld. t. 350 ; Burman, 

 Thes. Zeyl. t. 97 {Senna quadrifolia, etc.). 



Vernac. names. — Fidele (Nupe, Barter) ; Fiddeli (Katagum, 

 Dalziel) ; Chickm (Arabia, Egypt, Moloney) ; Tschischiva or 

 Tscheschun (Congo, De Wildemari) ; Chimed [Seeds] (Mozambique, 

 Mus. Kew). — Black Grain. 



Quorra ; Nupe ; Katagum. Common in Tropical Asia, extending 

 to Australia, and throughout the Tropics. 



The seeds are used as a foment in ophthalmia by the natives in 

 Nupe (Barter, Herb. Kew), for the same purpose and as a cathartic in 

 India (Watt, Comm. Prod. India, p. 287), in Egypt and the Sudan 

 (Guillem. Perr. Rich. Fl. Senegamb. i. p. 262), and has also been 

 used in the treatment of ophthalmia with satisfactory results by 

 Dr. Harbauer in Brussels (De Wildeman, PI. Util. Congo, Art. xiv. 

 1903, p. 165). A preparation of the seed is used for the cure of 

 dyspepsia, headache, and for other medicinal purposes (I.e.). 



Ref. — " Cassia Absus," in Diet. Econ. Prod. India, Watt, ii. 1889, 



pp .210-211. "Cassia Absus" in PI. Utile du Congo, De Wildeman, 



Art. xiv. : "Les Cassia du Congo," pp. 165-166 (Spineux & Co. 

 Brussels, 1903). 



Cassia acutifolia, Delile ; Fl. Trop. Afr. II. p. 278. 



Ill— Delile, Egypte, t. 27, f. 1 ; Colladon, Hist. Cass. t. 15c 

 {C. lanceolata) ; Hayne, Darst. Beschr. Gewache, ix, t. 40 and t. 41 

 (C. lanceolata) ; Nees von Esenbeck, Plant. Medic, Diisseld. t. 345 

 {C. lanceolata) ; Steph. & Ch. Med. Bot. t. 30 {C. senna) ; Berg & 

 Schmidt, Darst. Beschr. Pharm. i. t. 8 f. (C. lenitiva) ; Batka, Monogr. 

 Senna t. 1 {Senna acutifolia) ; Baillon, Hist. PL ii. f. 99 (leaf), f. 100 

 (pod) ; Bentl. & Trimen, Med. PL t. 90 ; Kohler, Med. Pflan. i ; Engl. 

 & Prantl, Pflan. iii. pt. 3, f . 89 E-G ; Freeman & Chandler, World's 

 Comm. Prod. p. 338 (leaves). 



Vernac. name. — Senna jebeli (Arabic, Flilckiger & Hanbury). — 

 Alexandrian Senna ; Aden Senna ; Nubian Senna. 



The dried leaves are largely imported in bales from Alexandria for 

 medicinal purposes. It is the best of all the " Sennas" (Mus. Kew). 

 The value on the London Market at the present time is 5d. to h\d. 

 per lb. (Chem. & Druggist, Aug. 27th 1910, p. 60). 



Found in Nubia from the Sea Coast to between 3000 and 4000 ft. 

 (Bent, Herb. Kew), and in the Hadramaut at an altitude of 1700 ft. 

 (Lunt, Herb. Kew). 



The other important Sennas of commerce are " Arabian," " Mocha," 

 " Tinnivelly," " Bombay," or " East Indian " Senna {C. angustifolia, 

 VahL), FL Trop. Afr. ii. p. 279, and " American Senna " (C. mari- 

 landica, L.). 



Ref — " On the Plants from which Senna-Leaves are obtained," 



Batka, in Pharm. Journ. [1] ix. 1850, pp. 25-31. " Folia Sennae," 



In Pharmacographia, Fliickiger & Hanbury, pp. 216-221 (Macmillan 



& Co. London, 1879). " Cassia acutifolia" in Med. PL Bentley & 



Trimen, No. 90, 6 pages (J. & A. Churchill, London, 1880). 



*« Senna Leaves," Holmes, in Pharm. Journ. [4] x. 1900, pp. 226-227. 



