PLANTS FROM WHICH SENNA-LEAVES ARE OBTAINED. 365 
the air and moisture ; and whilst they are yet for the most 
part not dry, they are pressed together in bales, where they 
undergo a fermentation. This is distinctly shown by the 
burnt black, and, by the oxidation of the Cathartin, yellow 
leaves. The proof that this color is not the natural one is 
furnished by the fact, that the above-mentioned Tinevelly 
leaves, and the more carefully collected pure Yemen and 
Mecca leaves, which come from the same plant, are, since 
the abolition of the monopoly, received direct from these 
parts, in a more beautiful condition than were formerly 
procured by way of Cairo. They are also justly to be pre- 
ferred to those East India yellow leaves; for although 
Pomet, in his work written in 16SS, prefers the yellowish 
senna leaves to all others, still he would have rejected them, 
because they represent as narrow-leaved senna (de la pique) 
the Mecca leaves, against which he pronounces, without 
further examination, the anathema, as well as against the 
green leaves ( obovata ) from Tripoli and Saida, with the 
intention of praising above all others the Alexandrian leaves, 
which were at that time probably not so much mixed with 
other leaves and the Cynanchum as now. 
It was only after long continued personal examination 
and inspection of the dried original plants, that it has been 
possible to elucidate finally this obscure part of the materia 
medica; and I shall consider myself very happy if I have 
succeeded in this task. 
Senna. 
Familia Leguminosce, tribus Cassia. Decandria Mono- 
gynia. Calyx pentaphyllus, petala quinque aequalia ; an- 
therae supremae tres steriles, infimae tres radiatae filamentis 
longioribus incurvis, petiolis eglandulosis, foliolis basi obli- 
quis. Folliculi oblongi ve4 reniformes, lati, plano-compressi, 
raargine membranaceo. Semina (parietalia, cum dissepU 
mentis) cordata. tunica torulosa. Podospermio, sutura 
supera et hilo ovali conjuncto, cotyledonibus flavis, radicula 
et plumula coronatis. 
31* 
