"The fruit of Cassia Fistula, Linné" (U. S. P.) (Bactyrilobium
Fistula, Willdenow; Cathartocarpus Fistula, Persoon). COMMON
NAME AND SYNONYM: Purging cassia; Fructus cassiae fistulae.
ILLUSTRATION: Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, 87. Botanical
Source.—Cassia fistula is a tree growing from 20 to 40 feet
high, with many spreading branches toward the summit. The wood
is hard and heavy. The leaves pinnate, alternate, from 12 to 18
inches long, and deciduous; the leaflets opposite or nearly so,
from 4 to 8 pairs, the lower ones broad-ovate, smooth, obtuse,
or emarginate, polished on both sides, on short, round petioles,
from 2 to 6 inches long, and from 1 1/2 to 3 broad. The flowers
are large, fragrant, bright-yellow, and borne on long, slender,
smooth pedicels. The racemes are axillary, pendulous, simple,
and 1 or 2 feet long. The calyx is composed of 5 nearly equal,
oblong, obtuse, smooth sepals. The corolla consists of 5 petals,
which are oval, unequal, concave, spreading, and waved. The 3
lower filaments, muc