PULSE FAMILY. 



109 



17. CAS'SIA, L. Senna. 



["An ancient name of obscure derivation.] 



Flowers perfect ; Se])als 5, scarcely connected. Petals 5, unequal, spread- 

 ing, not papilionaceous. Stamens mostly 10, some of them often imper- 

 fect ; anthers opening at apex. Herbs : leaves equally pinnate, with a 

 gland near the base of the petiole. 



* Leaflets large; stipules deciduous: the lower anthers fertile, the 3 upper 

 ones deformed and sterile. 



L C. Marilan'dica, L. Perennial ; stem erect, leaflets 6-9 pairs, 

 ovate oblong ; petiole with a club-shaped gland near the base ; racemes 

 axillary, the upper ones somewhat paniculate ; legumes at first hairy> 

 at length smooth. 



Maryland Cassia. Wild, or American Senna. 



stem 3-4 feet high, rather stout, branching. Leaflets 1-2 inches long, petiolulate ; 

 common petioles 1-2 inches in length below the leaflets, with an obovoid subsessile gland 

 on the upper side. Racemes pedunculate, those in the upper axils forming a sort of ter- 

 minal leafy panicle ; ^ou-ers yellow, often becoming a dead white. Legumes Z ~ ^ mchas 

 long, villous when young, compressed, somewhat curved, often sinuate on the edges from 

 partial contractions ; seeds ovate-oblong, separated by a kind of transverse partitions. 



Low grounds along streams : frequent August -October. 



Ohs. This very showy species is found in most parts of the United 

 States ; its leaves possess properties similar to those of the imported 

 Senna of the shops — which is also furnished by several species of the ge- 



rm. 78. Wild Senna (Cassia Marilandica) , a short racome in the axil of an abruptly- 

 pi':inate leaf. 



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