From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cassia \Cas"sia\ (k[a^]sh"[.a]), n. [L. cassia and casia, Gr.
kassi`a and kasi`a; of Semitic origin; cf. Heb.
qets[imac][=a]h, fr. q[=a]tsa' to cut off, to peel off.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants (herbs, shrubs, or
trees) of many species, most of which have purgative
qualities. The leaves of several species furnish the senna
used in medicine.
[1913 Webster]
2. The bark of several species of {Cinnamomum} grown in
China, etc.; Chinese cinnamon. It is imported as {cassia},
but commonly sold as cinnamon, from which it differs more
or less in strength and flavor, and the amount of outer
bark attached.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The medicinal "cassia" (Cassia pulp) is the laxative
pulp of the pods of a leguminous tree ({Cassia fistula}
or Pudding-pipe tree), native in the East Indies but
naturalized in various tropical countries.
[1913 Webster]
{Cassia bark}, the bark of {Cinnamomum cassia}, etc. The
coarser kinds are called {Cassia lignea}, and are often
used to adulterate true cinnamon.
{Cassia buds}, the dried flower buds of several species of
cinnamon ({Cinnamomum cassia}, atc..).
{Cassia oil}, oil extracted from cassia bark and cassia buds;
-- called also {oil of cinnamon}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
cassia
n 1: any of various trees or shrubs of the genus Cassia having
pinnately compound leaves and usually yellow flowers
followed by long seedpods
2: some genus Cassia species often classified as members of the
genus Senna or genus Chamaecrista [syn: {genus Cassia},
{Cassia}]
3: Chinese tree with aromatic bark; yields a less desirable
cinnamon than Ceylon cinnamon [syn: {cassia}, {cassia-bark
tree}, {Cinnamomum cassia}]
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