Leguminosae. 101 
panicles of yellow flowers. The exact date of introduction into this 
Territory is not known to the writer, but dates back evidently to 
the time of Dr. W. Hillebrand in the early seventies. It flowers in 
late summer and the early part of autumn when all of our other 
showy leguminous trees have laid down their bright colored robes. 
Cassia alata Linn. 
ACAPULCO OR APULCO. 
Cassia alata is a small, short-lived shrub, with thick, downy 
branches, the equally pinnate leaves are from one and a half to 
two feet long ; the leaflets, of which there are sixteen to twenty- 
eight per leaf, are oblong, have a broad apex and increase in size 
upward. The inflorescence is terminal, spike-like often a foot and 
a half long and bears large yellow flowers. The pods are straight, 
and have a papery wing running from end to end, hence the name 
alata (winged). 
The bark is useful as tanning material in India. The leaves, 
which enjoy a medicinal reputation among the natives of India, who 
employ them as a local application in skin diseases, are said to cure 
all poisonous bites, as well as ringworm, when crushed and applied 
fresh. 
It is a native of tropical America but is now widely distributed. 
In Honolulu it is not plentiful but can be met with in gardens 
where it is planted as an ornamental shrub. 
Cassia glauca Lam. A native of South-eastern Asia, is a small 
tree very commonly planted and even naturalized in and about Hono- 
lulu and probably in other parts of the Territory. It has yellow 
flowers borne in corymbs and thin papery pods which open on one 
side. The bark is said to be of medicinal value in diabetes when 
given mixed with water and sugar. 
Cassia laevigata Willd., also of early introduction, resembles 
Cassia glauca but is a shrub and differs from the latter in the pods 
which are round instead of flat, with the seeds arranged horizontally 
in septae or divisions. It is especially common in Xuuanu and Pauoa 
Valley, where it grows profusely over fences along water courses. 
The natives call it Kalomona. 
