Morphological characteristics, main nutrient composition and part of mineral element contents in seeds of Cassia

nomame (Sieb.) Kitag. from five populations in Yanshan Mountains were analyzed. The results show that length, width and thickness of seeds from different populations of C. nomame are 3. 36-3. 50 mm, 2. 46-2. 61 mm and 1. 18-1. 28 mm, respectively. Hundred-grain mass is 0. 86-1. 13 g, water content is 4. 82% -5. 28%. The contents of soluble sugar,soluble protein and crude fat are 29. 98 - 49. 79 mg·g-1 , 21. 52 - 24. 03 mg·g^-1  and 30. 08 - 55. 58 mg·g^-1 ,respectively. The contents of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ca and Mg is 49. 39-67. 35 μg·g^-1 , 10. 50-14. 15 μg·g^-1 , 10. 61-13. 63 μg·g^-1 , 42. 22-52. 82 μg·g^-1 , 6. 78-9. 42mg·g^-1 and 4. 87-5. 37 mg·g^-1, respectively. In general, there is no significant difference in length, width, water content and soluble protein content in seeds from different populations, while there is significant difference in thickness, hundred-grain mass, soluble sugar content, crude fat content and mineral element (including Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ca and Mg) contents in seeds.