Cassia (genus)
497780
221158594
2008-06-23T08:29:26Z
William Avery
1398
Disambiguate [[Antiquity]] to [[classical antiquity]] using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]]
:''This article is about the [[legume]] genus ''Cassia''. For other uses, see [[Cassia (disambiguation)]].
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Cassia''
| image = Cassia javanica.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = [[Apple-blossom Cassia]]<br/>''[[Cassia javanica]]'' as described by [[Carolus Linnaeus the Younger]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Caesalpinioideae]]
| tribus = [[Cassieae]]
| subtribus = [[Cassiinae]]
| genus = '''''Cassia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
Hundreds{{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- wss "About 650"; this is highly dubious due to the inordinate number of genus revisions in Cassieae -->, see text.
| synonyms =
''Cathartocarpus'' <small>(''partim'')</small>
}}
'''''Cassia''''' is a [[genus]] of [[Fabaceae]] in the [[subfamily]] [[Caesalpinioideae]]. Commonly called '''cassias''', "[[cassia]]" is also the English name of ''Cinnamomum aromaticum'' in the [[Lauraceae]] (from which the [[spice]] cassiabark is derived), and some other species of ''[[Cinnamomum]]''. In addition, the genus ''Cassia'' was for long ill-delimited with regards to the related [[Cassiinae]] - especially ''[[Senna (genus)|Senna]]'' -, many [[species]] of which were once placed herein<ref name = ildis2005>ILDIS (2005)</ref>. As a rule-of-thumb, ''Cassia sensu stricto'' contains the largest Cassiinae, usually mid-sized [[tree]]s.
In the [[classical antiquity|Antiquity]], "cassia" - ''kásia'' (kασία), ''qəṣi`â'' (קסיה{{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- what is קְצִיעָה "Q@tsiy`ah"? -->), etc - usually meant certain local or widely traded ''Cinnamomum'' species. For details, see [[Cassia#History]].
==Ecology and uses==
[[Image:Cassia Unai.JPG|thumb|left|250px|[[Golden Shower Tree]] (''C. fistula'') in bloom]]
Owing to this confusion about which [[species]] actually belong into ''Cassia'', many references to some sort of "cassia" are less than clear; usually it is hard or even impossible if a species of the present genus, of ''[[Senna (genus)|Senna]]'', or of ''[[Cinnamomum]]'' is meant. "[[Cassia gum]]" for example is not made from ''Cassia'' in the present sense, but from [[Chinese Senna]] (sicklepod, ''Senna obtusifolia''), formerly klnown as ''Cassia obtusifolia'', ''C. toroides'' and several other [[taxa]] in the present genus.
"Cassia" is not infrequently encountered in texts on [[herbalism]] and [[alternative medicine]]. This is usually ''Senna'' however; while both genera contain plants with medical properties those of ''Senna'' seem to be more pronounced (or are simply better-studied). Still, [[Golden Shower Tree]] (''C. fistula'') is unequivocally identified and considered very potent in [[Ayurvedic medicine]], where it is called ''aragvadha'' ("disease killer"). It contains elevated quantities of [[anthraquinone]]s and consequently is mainly useful against [[gastrointestinal]] conditions (e.g. [[constipation]] or [[acid reflux]]) and to still bleeding. While its fruit pulp is considered a mild remedy, the roots are said to be so potent as to render their use actually dangerous if not supervised by a trained professional.
There exists some culinary use for cassia. The fruit pulp of some is eaten as a refreshing treat - similar to the related [[tamarind]] - , though it is important to note that not all species have edible fruit, and at least some have poisonous seed. Of course, as noted above, consuming too much of the pulp even in species in which it is edible is likely to result in [[fulminant]] [[Defecation|passing of stool]]. It is not quite clear to what extent ''Cassia'' leaves are used to brew [[herbal tea]]s, as is common with those of ''Senna''. And clearly, both Cassiinae pale by comparison to the effectively global importance of ''[[Cinnamomum aromaticum]]'' bark.
The uncertainty about identities has created considerable confusion in [[ritual]] too. The [[Sprig of Acacia]] in [[Freemason]] [[symbology]] in occasionally proposed to be actually a "cassia". Said "cassia" led to the grave of "the Widow's Son" [[Hiram Abiff]], an [[allegorical]] master craftsman that cannot be aligned to any real-world [[geography]] more closely than the [[Levant]]. Some [[acacia]] is more often used; the typical ''[[Acacia]]''s of the region are trees much like ''Cassia'' in [[habitus]] and [[ecology]] and thus it is impossible to identify the Sprig even to [[subfamily]] rank.
[[Ecological]]ly, ''Cassia'' tolerates a wide range of climates and temperatures, though it tends towards loving warmth. This and their showy flowers mane them desirable [[ornamental plant]]s for [[park]]s and [[garden]]s. [[Arid]]land species are well-suited for [[reforestation]] purposes and to provide sources of natural goods and improving soil quality and stemming [[desertification]] also.
[[Image:Catopsilia pyranthe cat sec.jpg|thumb|right|Caterpillars of the [[Mottled Emigrant]] (''Catopsilia pyranthe'') are frequently found on some ''Cassia'' species.]]
''Cassia'' species are used as food plants by the [[caterpillar]]s of some [[Lepidoptera]]. These include:
* ''[[Astraptes fulgerator]]'' (Two-barred Flasher) – Occasionally on [[Golden Shower Tree]] (''C. fistula''), [[Pink Shower Cassia]] (''[[Cassia grandis|C. grandis]]''), and possibly others
* ''[[Catopsilia pomona]]'' (Common Emigrant or Lemon Emigrant) – recorded on Golden Shower Tree (''C. fistula'') and probably others
* ''[[Catopsilia pyranthe]]'' (Mottled Emigrant) – caterpillar recorded on Golden Shower Tree (''C. fistula''), [[Pink Cassia]] (''[[Cassia bakeriana|C. bakeriana]]''), "''Cassia javanica''" ([[Apple-blossom Cassia]] ''[[Cassia javanica|C. javanica]]'' or [[Roxburgh's Cassia]] ''[[Cassia roxburghii|C. roxburghii]]'') and probaby others
* ''[[Endoclita malabaricus]]''{{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- genus article has Cassia but no other Cassiinae. Possibly Cassia sensu lato - perhaps not Cassia sensu stricto? -->
* ''[[Phoebis sennae]]'' (Cloudless Sulphur){{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- "Chamaecrista cinerea, sennas (Cassia)..." - i.e. smallish Cassiinae only? -->
The [[plant pathogen]]ic [[virus]]es [[Cassia yellow blotch bromovirus]] ([[Bromoviridae]]) and [[Cassia yellow spot potyvirus]] ([[Potyviridae]], formerly [[Cassia yellow blotch virus]]) were first described from ''[[Cassia pleurocarpa|C. pleurocarpa]]'' and ''"Cassia hoffmanseggi"'' (a ''[[nomen nudum]]''?), respectively
==Systematics and taxonomy==
There are hundreds of ''Cassia'' [[species]], but the exact number is still not clear. The reason is that ''Casiia'' was long used as a [[wastebin taxon]] for [[Cassieae]] in general, most notably ''[[Senna (genus)|Senna]]'' and ''[[Chamaecrista]]'' with which it makes up the [[Cassiinae]]. Those species are more recently moved to more correct placements, but the process is still ongoing due to the high number of species, with more than 1000 named [[taxa]] having been described for this genus altogether.<ref name = ildis2005 />
===Selected species<ref name = ildis2005 />===
[[image:Cassia xnealii.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Cassia × nealii]]'']]
<!--
BE VERY VERY CAREFUL when adding new species. Check e.g. ILDIS for validity, authors, synonyms.
--->
* ''[[Cassia afrofistula]]'' <small>Brenan</small> – [[Kenyan Shower Cassia]] (= ''C. fistula'' <small>''sensu'' Brenan</small>)
* ''[[Cassia aldabrensis]]''
* ''[[Cassia artensis]]''
* ''[[Cassia aubrevillei]]''
* ''[[Cassia bakeriana]]'' <small>Craib</small> – [[Pink Cassia]], [[Wishing-tree]] (= ''C. bakerana'')
* ''[[Cassia brewsteri]]'' <small>(F.Muell.) F.Muell. ex [[George Bentham|Benth.]]{{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- "F. Muell."? --></small>
* ''[[Cassia cardiosperma]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
* ''[[Cassia eremophila]]'' <small>Vogel<!-- do not remove: "Cassia eremophila" without describer can refer to several plants --></small> – [[Desert Cassia]]
* ''[[Cassia ferruginea]]'' <small>([[Schrad.]]) [[A. P. de Candolle|DC.]]</small> (= ''C. brasiliana'' <small>Lam.</small> var. ''ferruginea'', ''C. staminea'')
* ''[[Cassia fikifiki]]''
* ''[[Cassia fistula]]'' <small>[[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]<!-- do not remove: "Cassia fistula" without describer can refer to several plants --></small> – [[Golden Shower Tree]], ''aehaela-gaha'' (Sinhalese), ''amaltās'' (Hindi and Urdu), ''bendra lathi'' (Hindi), ''bahava'' (Marathi), ''chahui'' (Meitei), ''dok khuen'' (Thai), ''kanikkonna'' (Malayalam: Kerala), ''khoun'' (Lao), ''konrai'' (Tamil), ''rachapruek'' (Thai), ''rajbriksya'' (Nepali)
* ''[[Cassia grandis]]'' <small>[[Carolus Linnaeus the Younger|L.f.]]</small> – [[Pink Shower Cassia]]<!-- used for also C. bakeriana --> (= ''C. brasiliana'', ''C. brasiliana'' var. ''tomentosa'' <small>Miq.</small>, ''C. brasiliensis'', ''C. mollis'', ''C. pachycarpa'')
* ''[[Cassia javanica]]'' <small>[[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]<!-- do not remove: "Cassia javanica" without describer can refer to several plants --></small> – [[Apple-blossom Cassia]] (= ''C. bacillus'' <small>Gaertn.</small>, ''C. megalantha'')
** ''Cassia javanica'' ssp. ''javanica'' (= ''C. bacillus'' <small>Roxb.</small>, ''C. fistula'' <small>''sensu'' Blanco</small>)
* ''[[Cassia × lancasteri]]''
* ''[[Cassia magnifolia]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
* ''[[Cassia × nealii]]'' – [[Rainbow Shower Tree]]
* ''[[Cassia notabilis]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
* ''[[Cassia oligoclada]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
* ''[[Cassia pleurocarpa]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
* ''[[Cassia roxburghii]]'' <small>[[A. P. de Candolle|DC.]]</small> – [[Roxburgh's Cassia]] (= ''C. javanica'' <small>''sensu'' Bojer</small>, ''C. marginata'' <small>Roxb.</small>)
* ''[[Cassia venusta]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
===Formerly placed here<ref name = ildis2005 />===
[[Image:Chamaecrista nictitans.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wild Sensitive Pea]], ''[[Chamaecrista nictitans]]''<br/>''Chamaecrista'' are typically herbs.]]
[[Image:Senna siamea.jpg|thumb|right|[[Siamese Senna]] (''[[Senna siamea]]'') [[herbarium]] specimen.<br/>This smallish tree is among the larger species of ''Senna''.]]
[[Image:Senna surattensis.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Senna surattensis]]''.<br/>This is a typical [[shrub]]by ''Senna''.]]
<!--
List authors when ambiguous - if in doubt list! List subspecies, varieties etc when their name occus also in other combinations in other species, or when the species to which it was then assigned is not among the synonyms of the currently valid species
-->
* ''[[Chamaecrista absus]]'' (as ''C. absus'' <small>[[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]</small>, ''C. babylonica'', ''C. coccinea'', ''C. exigua'', ''C. foliolis'', ''C. thonningii'', ''C. viscida'')
* ''[[Chamaecrista fasciculata]]'' – Large-flowered Partridge Pea, Showy Partridge Pea (as ''C. brachiata'', ''C. chamaecrista'' <small>L.</small>, ''C. chamaecrista'' <small>L.</small> var. ''robusta'', ''C. depressa'', ''C. fasciculata'', ''C. fasciculata'' var. ''puberula'' <small>(Greene)J.F.Macbr.</small>, ''C. fasciculata'' var. ''rostrata'' <small>(Wooton & Standl.) B.L.Turner</small>, ''C. fisheri'', ''C. greenei'', ''C. littoralis'', ''C. mississipiensis'', ''C. pulchella '' <small>Salisb.</small>, ''C. robusta'', ''C. rostrata'' <small>(Wooton & Standl.) Tiderstr.</small>, ''C. triflora'' <small>Jacq.</small>, ''C. venosa'' <small>Zuccagni</small>)
* ''[[Chamaecrista nictitans]]'' – [[Wild Sensitive Pea]], [[Wild Sensitive-plant]] (as ''C. aeschinomene'', ''C. aspera'' var. ''mohrii'', ''C. chamaecrista'' <small>L.</small> var. ''nictitans'', ''C. mimosoides'' <small>L.</small> ssp. ''leschenaultiana'' <small>(DC.) H.Ohashi</small>, ''C. multipinnata'', ''C. nictidans'', ''C. nictitans'', ''C. nictitans'' var. ''hebecarpa'' <small>Fernald</small>, ''C. procumbens'' <small>L.</small>)
* ''[[Senna alata]]'' – [[Candle Bush]], Candelabra Bush, Empress Candle Plant, Candlestick Tree, Ringworm Tree, "[[candletree]]"
* ''[[Senna alexandrina]]'' – [[Alexandrian Senna]], Egyptian Senna, Tinnevelly Senna, East Indian Senna, ''sene de la palthe'' (French)
* ''[[Senna artemisioides]]'' – [[Silver Senna]], Feathery Senna
* ''[[Senna auriculata]]'' – [[Avaram Senna]], ''avaram'', ''ranawara''
* ''[[Senna bicapsularis]]'' – [[Rambling Senna]], Christmas Bush, Money Bush, Yellow Candlewood
* ''[[Senna corymbosa]]'' – [[Argentine Senna]], Argentina Senna, Buttercup Bush, Flowering Senna, (Texas) Flowery Senna, Tree Senna
* ''[[Senna covesii]]'' – [[Desert Senna]], Coues' Senna, Rattleweed
* ''[[Senna durangensis]]'' – [[Durango Senna]] (as ''C. durangensis'' <small>[[Joseph Nelson Rose|Rose]]</small>)
* ''[[Senna floribunda]]'' (as ''C. floribunda'' <small>Cav.</small>)
* ''[[Senna garrettiana]]'' (as ''C. garrettiana'')
* ''[[Senna hebecarpa]]'' – [[American Senna]], Wild Senna
* ''[[Senna hirsuta]]'' (as ''C. caracasana'', ''C. hirsuta'', ''C. leptocarpa'', ''C. tomentosa'' <small>Arn.</small>, ''C. venenifera'')
** ''Senna hirsuta'' var. ''puberula'' (as ''C. longisiliqua'' <small>Blanco</small>, ''C. pubescens'', ''C. sulcata'' <small>''sensu'' Blanco</small>)
* ''[[Senna insularis]]'' (as ''C. absus'' <small>Sessé & Moc.</small>, ''C. insularis'')
* ''[[Senna italica]]'' (as ''C. italica'', ''C. ligustrina'' <small>Mill.</small>, ''C. obtusa'' <small>Roxb.</small>, ''C. porturegalis'')
** ''Senna italica'' ssp. ''italica'' – [[Neutral Henna]] (as ''C. aschrek'', ''C. italica'' ssp. ''italica'' <small>(Mill.)Spreng.</small>, ''C. obovata'')
* ''[[Senna montana]]'' (as ''C. montana'' <small>Roth.</small>, ''C. setigera'')
* ''[[Senna multiglandulosa]]'' (as ''C. albida'', ''C. cana'' <small>Steud.</small>, ''C. lutescens'', ''C. multiglandulosa'', ''C. tomentosa'' <small>L.f.</small>, ''C. wightiana'')
* ''[[Senna obtusifolia]]'' – [[Chinese Senna]], Sicklepod, Foetid Senna, Sickle Senna, Coffeeweed, Arsenic Weed, "[[blunt-leaved senna]]", "[[coffee pod]]", "[[java bean]]"
* ''[[Senna occidentalis]]'' – [[Coffee Senna]], [[Mogdad Coffee]] (as ''C. caroliniana'', ''C. ciliata'' <small>Raf.</small>, ''C. falcata'' <small>L.</small>, ''C. foetida'' <small>Pers.</small>, ''C. laevigata'' <small>sensu auct. ''non'' Prain ''non'' Willd.</small>, ''C. macradenia'', ''C. obliquifolia'', ''C. occidentalis'', ''C. occidentalis'' <small>L.</small> var. ''arista'' <small>sensu Hassk.</small>, ''C. occidentalis'' <small>L.</small> var. ''aristata'' <small>Collad.</small>, ''C. planisiliqua'')
* ''[[Senna pilosior]]'' (as ''C. bauhinioides'' var. ''pilosior'', ''C. durangensis'' <small>sensu auct. ''non'' Rose</small>, ''C. pilosior'')
* ''[[Senna quinquangulata]]'' (as ''C. quinquangulata'')
* ''[[Senna septemtrionalis]]'' (as ''C. aurata'', ''C. elegans'', ''C. floribunda'' <small>auct. ''non'' Cav.</small>, ''C. laevigata'' <small>Willd.</small>, ''C. laevigata'' <small>Willd.</small> var. ''floribunda'' <small>sensu Ghesq.</small>, ''C. quadrangularis'', ''C. septemtrionalis'', ''C. vernicosa'' <small>Clos</small>)
* ''[[Senna siamea]]'' – [[Siamese Senna]], ''khi-lek'' (Thai) (as ''C. arayatensis'' <small>''sensu'' Naves</small>, ''C. arborea'', ''C. florida'', ''C. gigantea'', ''C. siamea'', ''C. siamea'' var. ''puberula'' <small>Kurz</small>, ''C. sumatrana'')<!-- contains barakol used to counteract aconitine poisoning -->
* ''[[Senna sophera]]'' (as ''C. atroviridis'', ''C. atropurpurea'', ''C. canca'', ''C. esculenta'', ''C. frutescens'', ''C. geminiflora'' <small>Schrank</small>, ''C. linearis'', ''C. lineata'' <small>Michx.</small>, ''C. occidentalis'' <small>L.</small> var. ''glabra'' <small>DC.</small>, ''C. occidentalis'' <small>L.</small> var. ''sophera'', ''C. patula'', ''C. proboscidea'', ''C. sophera'', ''C. sopheroides'', ''C. torosa'')<!-- "C. autropurpurea Benth." is lapsus on ILDIS -->
** ''Senna sophera'' var. ''sophera'' (as ''C. indica'', ''C. lanceolata'' <small>Link</small>)
* ''[[Senna spectabilis]]''
** ''Senna spectabilis'' var. ''excelsa''
** ''Senna spectabilis'' var. ''micans'' - sometimes placed in ''Senna macranthera''
* ''[[Senna sulfurea]]'' (as ''C. arborescens'' <small>Vahl</small>, ''C. enneaphylla'', ''C. glauca'' <small>Lam.</small>, ''C. petropolitana'', ''C. sulfurea'', ''C. surattensis'' <small>auct. ''non'' Burm.f.</small>, ''C. surattensis'' <small>Burm. f.</small> ssp. ''glauca'' <small>(Lam.) K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen</small>)
* ''[[Senna surattensis]]'' (as ''C. fastigiata'' <small>Vahl</small>, ''C. galuca'', ''C. suffruiticosa'', ''C. suffruticosa'', ''C. surattensis'' <small>Burm. f.</small>)
* ''[[Senna timoriensis]]'' (as ''C. arayatensis'', ''C. exaltata'', ''C. goensis'', ''C. montana'' <small>auct. ''non'' Roth</small>, ''C. timorensis'', ''C. timoriensis'')
* ''[[Senna tora]]'' <small>L.<!-- do not remove: "Cassia/Senna tora" without describer can refer to several plants --></small> – [[Sickle Wild Sensitive-plant]]
* ''[[Senna uniflora]]'' (as ''C. ciliata'' <small>Hoffmanns.</small>, ''C. monantha'', ''C. ornithopoides'', ''C. sensitiva'' <small>Jacq.</small>, ''C. sericea'', ''C. uniflora'')
* ''[[Senna wislizeni]]'' – [[Wislizenus' Senna]], Shrubby Senna
and many more
<!--
these are valid taxa as per ILDIS. periodically check for bluelinks and add synonyms and move to above
[[Chamaecrista aristata]]
[[Chamaecrista chamaecristoides]]
[[Chamaecrista cytisoides]]
[[Chamaecrista desvauxii]]
Chamaecrista desvauxii var. mollissima = C. lanceolata Pers.
[[Chamaecrista hispidula]]
[[Chamaecrista kunthiana]]
[[Chamaecrista leschenaultiana]]
[[Chamaecrista lineata]]
[[Chamaecrista mimosoides]]
Chamaecrista nictitans ssp. patellaria = C. mimosoides sensu Cordem.
[[Chamaecrista nomame]]
[[Chamaecrista pilosa]]
[[Chamaecrista pratensis]]
[[Chamaecrista telfairiana]]
[[Senna atomaria]]
[[Senna bacillaris]]
[[Senna bauhinioides]]
[[Senna cana]]
[[Senna candolleana]]
[[Senna cernua]]
[[Senna foetidissima]]
[[Senna gaudichaudii]]
[[Senna ligustrina]]
[[Senna macranthera]] note that var. micans is here placed with S. sectabilis
[[Senna pallida]]
Senna pallida var. geminiflora
[[Senna pendula]]
Senna pendula var. glabrata = C. bicapsularis sensu auct.
[[Senna polyantha]]
[[Senna polyphylla]]
[[Senna rostrata]]
[[Senna stipulacea]]
[[Senna villosa]]
-->
==See also==
* [[Sydney Percy-Lancaster]]
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
{{commonscat|Cassia}}
* {{aut|International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS)}} (2005): [http://www.ildis.org/ Genus ''Cassia'']. Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2007-DEC-20.
[[Category:Cassia|*]]
[[de:Kassien]]
[[es:Cassia]]
[[fr:Cassia]]
[[hsb:Hoberska kasija]]
[[ka:კასია (მცენარე)]]
[[pt:Cassia]]
[[ro:Cassia]]
[[tr:Sinameki]]