CASSIA. 



LEGUMINOS.t. DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



The derivation of the word is uncertain. 



Most of these plants require artificial heat in this 

 country, but the Maryland Cassia, Cassia Marilandica, 

 in a di'y soil and not too much exposed, will live abroad. 

 It grows four o>' five feet high, the blossoms are of a 

 pale yellow, and grow in loose spikes. It is a native of 

 North America. 



The senna of the apothecaries is obtained from an 

 Egyptian plant belonging to this genus. 



The poets' Cassia is of another genus, {Osyris alba): 

 it has been asked why the epithet alba has been given to 

 this plant, the flowers being yellow, and the berries red. 

 The Cassia is described by the poets as white : — 



" A dimpled hand. 



Fair as some wonder out of fairy-iand. 



Hung from his shoulder : Uke the drooping flowers 



Of whitest Cassia, fresh from summer showers." 



Keats's Poems, p. 24 



Some have supposed the true Cassia to be the Cneorum, 

 but that also has yellow blossoms ; others have believed 

 that the Romans had two sorts of Cassia, one of which was 

 the Cneorum, and the other a species of wild cinnamon. 

 In this case, the white blossom is understood, but not 

 the reason for calUng the Osyris alba. 



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