Flora Medica

Leaves scattered, abruptly pinnate, 2 feet long. Leaflets opposite, from8 to 14 pair, the exterior largest, linear-oblong, obtuse, or emarginate,with a point, smooth, entire, veined ;from 3 to 6 inches long, and from2 to 2i broad ;the lower pair more distant from the next pair than theothers above, nearly round and reflexed back on the stem or branches.Petioles channelled, the channel large and formed by 2 thin, firm yellowborders ;there is a cross-bar between each pair of leaflets, coveredwith small dark-coloured bristles and there is no other gland. Stipulesauriculate, rigid, pointed, persistent. Racemes terminal and from theexterior axils, long, sometimes bifid, nearly erect. Flowers numerous,simple, large, yellow. Bracts large, 1-flowered, oval, concave, yellow,deciduous. Calyx coloured like the corolla. Legume horizontal, from5 to 6 inches long, with a broad crenulated wing on each side. TheTelinga and Tamul physicians say that this plant cures all poisonousbites and venereal outbreakings, and also strengthens the body. Freshleaves often employed to cure ringworm.543. C. occidentalis Linn. sp. 539. Swartz obs. 159. DC.prodr. ii. 497. Bot. reg. t. 83. i.Maefady. JJ. jam. 344.(Sloane ii. 1. 175. f. 3, 4.) West Indies ; common in Jamaica.An erect shrub, 3-4 feet high : branches few, simple, angular, with2 furrows passing down from each side of the insertion of each petiole,slightly scabrous from minute curved asperities situated in the furrows.Leaflets shortly stalked, mucronate :petiole angular, furrowed, channelledabove, with a small sessile gland near the insertion ; stipuleslanceolate, falcate. Racemes axillary and terminal, short, usually3-flowered. Flowers yellow, stalked ;bracts lanceolate. Pedicelsan inch in length, downy. Legume 4-5 inches long.A decoction ofthe root said to be diuretic; that of the leaves, taken internally,and applied externally, to be useful in the cure of the itch, and othercutaneous diseases, in the human subject, and of mange in dogs andhorses. The Negroes employit in the preparation of their baths andfomentations; and apply the leaves, smeared with a little candle grease,to slight sores, as a substitute for adhesive plaster. Macfadyen. It i*called Gajamarioba, in Brazil, and with C. falcata, L. and the Fedegozo,or Cassia hirsuta, L.,is an extremely common plant, growing every wherenear habitations, and spreading rapidly. The root greatly (stimulatesthe lymphatic system, and is therefore very beneficial in obstructionsand weakness of the stomach, and incipient dropsy, against which diseaseit is used as a diuretic. Martins.544. C. marilandica Linn. 541. sp. pi. JBigelow med. bot.ii. t. 39. DC. prodr.ii. 498. (Dill. hart. elth. t. 359.) Richsoils near water from Carolina to New England.Stems 5 or 6 feet high, round, striated, slightly hairy. Petioleswith from 8 to 10 pairs of leaflets, which are oblong, smooth, mucronate,somewhat hairy at the edges. On the base of the petiole is a largeovate shining green gland, terminating in a dark point at top, whichis sometimes double. Flowers in axillary racemes, extending quite tothe top of the stem. Peduncles slightly furrowed, and marked withminute, blackish, glandular hairs. Sepals yellow, oval, obtuse, thelateral ones longest. Petals 5, bright yellow, concave, very obtuse.Stamens 10 ;the 3 upper have short abortive anthers ; to these succeed2 pairs of deflexed linear anthers the ; remaining 3, or lowermost,taper into a sort of beak, the middle one being shortest. Legumeslong, pendulous, linear, curved, swelling at the seeds, and furnished261 s 3