 It received the names "Alexandrian senna" and "Egyptian senna" because Alexandria in Egypt was the main trade port in past times.The fruits and leaves were transported from Nubia and Sudan and other places to Alexandria, then from it and across the Mediterranean sea to Europe and adjacent Asia.Though it might look like a scientific name, "Cassia Officinalis" is actually the apothecary term for this plant, and hence "Officinalis"—the Latin adjective denoting tools, utensils and medical compounds—is written with an initial upper-case letter, unlike specific epithets, which are always written with an initial lower-case letter today.