a The calyx : magnified, h The same dissected, to show the insertion of 

 the stamens: magnified* c The pistil; showing the lateral insertion of the 

 style into the germen : magnified, d A flower-head, on which the bractes 

 alone remain, with two unripe seed-vessels ; which become Lomenta or 

 jointed pods, parting transversely by one-seeded articulations. 





forded no satisfactory or very interesting result. It is 

 certain that when this plant is in health and growing in a 

 sufficient degree of warmth, the leaves, upon being smartly 

 touched, fold together by their leaflets, and their stalk 



sinks; the same change of position takes place spontaneously 

 in them all every evening for the night; and the posture then 

 assumed is, according to Linnaeus, that of the sleep of the 

 plant. A leaf that has collapsed either naturally or from arti- 

 ficial irritation, is perceived to resume its extended state by 

 a gradual vibratory motion, compared by Miller to that of 

 the index of a clock. The discovery of the end attained in 

 this phenomenon is most probably reserved for a diligent 

 attention to the economy of these vegetables on their native 

 spot. The root of all of them emits a most offensive smell, 

 resembling that from a sewer at the time of impending 

 rain. 



The species is marked in the Hortus Kewensis for bien- 

 nial. Its stem is woody and brittle, and sometimes ac- 

 quires the height of 8 feet; but must have support. Several 

 new ones have been discovered in South America (of which 

 country all are natives), by Messrs. Bonpland and Hum- 

 boldt. 



Native of the Brazils. Introduced in 1733 by Dr. 

 Houston. Varies much iti the size of the leaflets. The 

 drawing was made from the only living specimen we have 

 seen, and which had been raised from seed received from 

 Jamaica, in the nursery of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Ham- 

 mersmith. 







