from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Senna \Sen"na\, n. [Cf. It. & Sp. sena, Pg. sene, F. s['e]n['e];
all fr. Ar. san[=a].]
1. (Med.) The leaves of several leguminous plants of the
genus {Cassia}. ({Cassia acutifolia}, {Cassia
angustifolia}, etc.). They constitute a valuable but
nauseous cathartic medicine.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Bot.) The plants themselves, native to the East, but now
cultivated largely in the south of Europe and in the West
Indies.
[1913 Webster]
{Bladder senna}. (Bot.) See under {Bladder}.
{Wild senna} (Bot.), the {Cassia Marilandica}, growing in the
United States, the leaves of which are used medicinally,
like those of the officinal senna.
[1913 Webster]