CASSIA

cassia, cassia-bark tree, Cinnamomum cassia

(noun) Chinese tree with aromatic bark; yields a less desirable cinnamon than Ceylon cinnamon

cassia

(noun) any of various trees or shrubs of the genus Cassia having pinnately compound leaves and usually yellow flowers followed by long seedpods

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

cassia (countable and uncountable, plural cassias or cassiæ)

(uncountable) The spice made from the bark of members of the genus Cinnamomum other than true cinnamon (C. verum), when they are distinguished from cinnamon.

(countable) Such trees themselves, particularly the Chinese cinnamon, Cinnamomum cassia.

(countable) Any of several tropical leguminous plants, of the genus Cassia.

(countable) Any of several tropical leguminous plants, of the genus Senna.

(countable, mistranslation from Chinese) The sweet osmanthus (O. fragrans).

Usage notes

Cassia is typically marketed in American English as “cinnamon” but is typically distinguished from Sri Lankan cinnamon in Europe. The oil content of the bark of the Saigon cinnamon is actually superior to that of true cinnamon, but Chinese cassia and Indonesian cinnamon have somewhat less.

Sweet osmanthus and cassia were both formerly 桂 in Chinese and the character is often translated as "cassia", owing to its greater importance in modern international trade; however, it is generally the sweet-smelling osmanthus that is meant.

Anagrams

• Caïssa, Isaacs

Source: Wiktionary

Cas"sia, n. Etym: [L. cassia and casia, Gr. qetsi\'beh, fr. qatsa' to cut off, to peel off.]

1. (Bot.)

Definition: 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.

2. The bark of several species of Cinnamommum 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.

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. 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition