270 ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
The conclusions to which we are led from the perusal of 
the facts and evidence presented by the authorities above cited, 
are the following: 
1. That the C. acutifolia of Delile and lanceolata of For- 
skall and Nectoux are the same. 
2. That the C. ovata of Merat and De Lens is a variety 
of lanceolata. 
3. That the C. elongata, of Lemaire and Fee is the variety 
alluded to by Forskall as having been found in Arabia, and 
the C. ligustrinoides of Decandolle. 
A species of Cassia has been noticed in Liberia by Dr. 
Skinner,* for several years a resident of that colony, and 
who has evinced great zeal and industry in his efforts to in- 
vestigate the Natural History and resources of Western 
Africa. He has forwarded specimens of the plant to the 
United States, one of which is deposited in the Herbarium of 
the Academy of Natural Sciences. From the experiments of 
Dr. Skinner we are led to believe that it may become a 
useful auxiliary in medicine, particularly in the country 
where it is indigenous. Upon trial its properties were found to 
be highly purgative, even more so than the officinal Senna; a 
single leaf (including the stem and leaflets) was sufficient for 
administration at a dose. The specimen sent is imperfect, 
consisting but of the leaves and fruit; sufficient however is pre- 
sented to obtain some idea of the plant 
The leaf consists of 5 pair of opposite folioles, the superior 
longest, upon short petioles, elliptic, 3| inches long and 2 
broad, slightly mucronate, smooth and glaucous on the un- 
der surface, superior veins prominent giving a reticulated 
aspect, destitute of glands on the petiole. The fruit is flat, 
compressed, straight, 3 inches long and half an inch broad; su- 
ture prominent, the external surface of the legume marked 
with numerous ridges, which are at right angles to the suture 
and extend across the whole legume, corresponding to the 
seed. Colour dark brown. 
From these isolated portions it is to be supposed that the 
plant is herbaceous and attains some size. 
* A proper name for this species, would be Cassia sMnheri. 
