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Cassia (Greek Kasia of Dioscorided)

(the Greek Kasia of Dioscorided, from Hebrew Quetsi'oth). ORD. L Leguminosoe. A very large genus of shrubs or herbs, containing over two hundred species, few of which are seen in English gardens. Flowers yellow. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets opposite; petioles usually glandular. C. corymbosa is about the only species grown, and even this is not frequently met with. They are all of very easy culture and propagation. The stove and greenhouse species thrive well in a compost of maiden loam, sand, and a little peat. C. corymbosamay be placed out of doors, in a sheltered warm spot in June; but so soon as the frost touches the foliage, the plant should be potted up, and after cutting it back nearly to the old wood, wintered in a cool, frost-proof greenhouse or vinery. The annuals and biennials are increased by seeds, which must be sown in March or April, in a gentle heat; and the shrubby species, by cuttings of half-ripened shoots, which will root in heat, at about the same time of the year. Stove evergreen shrubs, except where otherwise specified.

C. alata (winged-leaved).* fl. yellow, large, bracteolate. l. with eight to twelve pairs of obovate-oblong glabrous leaflets. outer ones the largest, lower ones approximating to the axils. h. 6ft. West Indies, 1731. Shrub. C. auriculata (small-eared). fl. yellow; bracts oval-oblong; racemes axillary. June, July. l. with eight to twelve pairs of oval, obtuse, rather mucronate leaflets, which are puberulous when young; petioles glandular. h. 4ft. to 6ft. India, 1777. Shrub.

C. bacillaris (rod). fl. yellow; racemes axillary, pedunculate. June, July. l. with two pairs of ovate, obtuse, oblique leaflets, with a gland on the petiole between the lower pair. h. 12ft. to 14ft. South America, West Indies, &c., 1782. Tree.

C. Barclayana (Barclay's) A synonym of C. Sophora.

C. biflora (two-flowered). fl. yellow; peduncles two to four-flowered, much shorter than the leaves. April, December. l. with six to eight pairs of oval-oblong or obovate, rather glabrous leaflets, with a subulate gland on the petiole between the lower pair. h. 4ft. to 6ft. South America, 1766. Green house. (B. M. 810.) C. corymbosa (corymbose).* fl. yellow, disposed in numerous corymbs. Summer. l. with three pairs of oblong-lanceolate, rather falcate leaflets, which are glabrous as well as the branches, with an oblong gland on the petiole between the lower pair h. 6ft. to 10ft. Buenos-Ayres, 1796. Half-hardy. C. emarginata (notched-leaved). fl. yellow; racemes axillary, crowded. May, June. l. with four pairs of ovate, obtuse, or rather emarginate leaflets, clothed with hairy pubescence beneath, as well as the branches, and glandless petioles. h. 15ft. West Indies, &c., 1759. Tree.

C. floribunda (many-flowered). fl. yellow; peduncles many flowered. June, July. l. with three to five pairs of oblong-lanceolate, glabrous leaflets, with an oblong gland on the petiole between the lower pair. h. 4ft. New Spain, 1818. Stove annual.

C. glanca (milky-green). fl. sulphur-colored; racemes axillary, erect, shorter than the leaves. June. l. with five to six pairs of oval-oblong leaflets, which are glaucous beneath, puberulous when young; petioles glandular, one gland between each of the three or four lower pairs of leaflets. India, 1800. A tall tree.

C. Herbertiana (Herbert's) Synonymous with C. laevigata. C. humilis (dwarf). A synonym of C. Tora.

C. laevigata (smooth). fl. yellow. July. l. with three to five pairs of ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, glabrous leaflets, with an oblong acutish gland between each of the pairs on the petiole. h. 3ft. New Spain. SYN. C. Herbertiana. (B. R. 1422.) C. marylandiea (Maryland).* fl. yellow; racemes axillary, many-flowered, shorter than the leaves. August, October. l. with eight to nine pairs of ovate-oblong, equal, mucronate leaflets, with an ovate gland at the base of the petiole. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America, 1723. this is the only hardy perennial species, and should be grown in a sheltered situation. It thrives in any common garden soil; and may be increased by seeds, or by dividing at the root, in spring.

C. nictitans(twinkling). fl. yellow; pedicels supra-axillary, very short. July. l. with eight to twelve pairs of oblong-linear, obtuse, mucronate leaflets; petioles villous, bearing a somewhat pedicellate gland beneath the lower pair of leaflets. h. 1ft. Tropical and sub-tropical America, 1800. Greenhouse annual.

C. occidentalis (western). fl. yellow; peduncles short, tow to four-flowered, lower ones axillary, the rest disposed in a terminal raceme. May, August. l. with four to six pairs of ovate-laceolate leaflets, with pubescent margins, and with a thick gland at the bas of the petiole. h. 1ft. to 2ft. South America, 1759. (B. R. 83.) C. Sophora (sophora). fl. peduncles axillary and terminal, shorter than the leaves, many-flowered. June. l. with six to eight pairs of linear-lanceolate, acute, glabrous leaflets, with a gascicle of glands between each of the pairs of pinnae, and a large depressed one at the base of the petiole. h. 8ft. to 10ft. Australia, &c., 1824. Greenhouse. SYN. C. Barclayana (S. F. A. 32.) C. tomentosa (tomentose).* fl. yellow. July, September, l. with six to eight pairs of oval-oblong, obtuse leaflets, which are nearly glabrous above, but clothed with hoary tomentum beneath; petiole furnished with glands usually with one between each pair of leaflets. h. 5ft. to 7ft. Tropical Asia, &c., 1822.

C. Tora (Tora). fl. yellow. august. l. with three pairs of obovate, obtuse leaflets, with an oblong gland between each of two lower pairs on the petiole, which ends in a bristle. h. 2ft. to 5ft. Tropics, 1693. Stove annual. SYN. C. humilis.