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Cassia (legume)

Cassia
Starr 030702-0030 Cassia javanica.jpg
Cassia javanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Tribe: Cassieae
Subtribe: Cassiinae
Genus: Cassia
L.
Species

Hundreds; see text

Synonyms
  • Bactyrilobium Willd. 1809
  • Cassia sect. Fistula DC. ex Colladon 1816
  • Cassia subgen. Fistula (DC.) Benth. 1870
  • Cassia sensu Link 1831
  • Cassia subgen. vel sect. Fistula sensu Benth. 1871
  • Cassia subgen. Cassia sensu De Wit 1955
  • Cassia sensu Irwin & Barneby 1981
  • Cassiana Raf. 1818
  • Cathartocarpus Pers. 1805 (pro parte)

Hundreds; see text

Cassia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae, and the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Species are known commonly as cassias. Cassia is also the English common name of some species in the genus Cinnamomum of the family Lauraceae. Species of the genera Senna and Chamaecrista were previously included in Cassia. Cassia now generally includes the largest species of the legume subtribe Cassiinae, usually mid-sized trees.

Cassia species occur in a range of climates. Some can be utilized widely as ornamental plants. They have been used in reforestation projects, and species from desert climates can be used to prevent desertification.

Cassia species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of many lepidopteran taxa. For example, the skipper Astraptes fulgerator and the pierids Catopsilia pomona and C. pyranthe are all seen on Cassia fistula. The latter utilizes several other cassias, as well.

The plant pathogenic viruses cassia yellow blotch bromovirus and cassia yellow spot potyvirus were first described from Cassia.


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