132 



MIM 



THE UNIVERSAL HERBAL; 



M IM 



61. Mimosa Tortuosa; Writhed Mimosa. Spines stipu- 

 lary; leaves bipinnate, four-paired, a gland between the 

 lowest ; pinnas sixteen-paired ; spikes globular. This is a 

 shrub with a branching stem : between the outer coat of the 

 pod and the inner membrane, separating the seeds, there is a 

 liquor of the consistence and colour of a syrup, which smells 

 very strong, and is bitter and astringent. Browne says, that 

 it would prove an excellent medicine, where rough astringents 

 are requisite. The whole plant is bitter ; and the flowers 

 have a very strong smell ; indeed, the smell of all the parts is 

 so rank and disagreeable, that it cannot be used even ibr fire- 

 wood, and is chiefly employed in hedges. Native of Jamaica, 

 where it is common in the low lands ; and is called the Com- 

 mon Acacia, or Acacee Bush. 



62. Mimosa Farnesiana ; Farnesian Mimosa, or Sponge 

 Tree. Spines stipulary, distinct; leaves bipinnate, partial 

 ones eight-paired ; spikes globular, sessile. This species is 

 known throughout Europe for the sweetness of its flowers ; 

 and the Italian gardeners, who bring over Orange-trees, &c. 

 to England, bring also many young plants of this, under the 

 name, of Gazia. Native of the West Indies, Barbary, and 

 Egypt, and of Cochin-china, in a state of cultivation. This 

 beautiful tree is very tender while young ; therefore should 

 have a hot-bed of tanner's bark ; and as it increases in bulk, 

 should be shifted into bigger pots. The earth should be 

 light, and inclined to a sand. It should never be planted in 

 over large pots ; nor have too much water, especially in 

 winter. This species is hardy, and will, when grown to be 

 woody, stand in a common stove, which should be kept to 

 the point of temperate heat, in winter; and in the warm 

 weather, in summer time, may enjoy the open free air. 



63. Mimosa Nilotica; Egyptian Mimosa. Spines stipu- 

 lary, spreading; leaves bipinnate, the outer partial ones 

 separated by a gland ; spikes globular, peduncled. This tree 

 grows to a large size in its native country, but in England 

 is rarely more than eight or ten feet high.- Native of Egypt 

 and Arabia. This is the tree that yields the Gum Arabic, 

 which is brought from Suez. The medical character of Gum 

 Arabic, is its glutinous quality : in consequence of which, it 

 proves useful in tickling coughs, hoarsenesses, in dysenteries 

 attended with griping, and where the mucus is abraded from 

 the bowels or from the urethra. In a dysuria, the true Gum 

 Arabic should be preferred before any other of the vegetable 

 gums : one ounce renders a pint of water considerably gluti- 

 nous ; four ounces give it a syrupy consistence : but for mu- 

 cilage, one part gum to two parts water is required ; and for 

 some purposes, an equal proportion will be necessary. 



64. Mimosa" Stellata ; Starry Mimosa. Spines stipulary ; 

 leaves bipinnate; petioles having recurved prickles under- 

 neath ; flowers racemed. Native of Arabia. 



65. Mimosa Pigra. Prickly, even : leaves bipinnate, with 

 opposite prickles ; spine erect between each of the partial 

 ones. Native of South America. 



66. Mimosa Asperata; Hairy-podded Sensitive Plant. 

 Prickly, rough-haired : leaves bipinnate, with opposite 

 prickles; spine erect, between each of the partial ooes. 

 Stalk shrubby, erect, five feet high, hairy, and armed with 

 short broad strong thorns ; flowers in globular heads, purple. 

 Native of Vera Cruz. See the twenty-sixth species. 



67. Mimosa Senegal; African Mimosa. Spines in threes, 

 the middle one reflex; leaves bipinnate; flowers in spikes. 

 This is distinguished at first sight by its white bark. Native 

 of Africa. 



68. Mimosa Ceesia ; Gray Mimosa. Prickly : leaves bi- 

 pinnate ; pinnas oval-oblong, obliquely acuminate. Native 

 of the East Indies. Se the forty-ninth species. 



69. Mimosa Pinnata; Small-leaved Mimosa. Prickly, 

 leaves bipinnate, very numerous, linear, acerose; panicle 

 prickly ; heads globular. Native of the East Indies and of 

 Cochin-china ; where the bark is converted into a sort of tow, 

 used for caulking boats, and stopping cracks in houses. 



70. Mimosa Intsia; Angular-stalked Mimosa. Prickly: 

 leaves bipinnate; pinnas curved inwards; stem angular; sti- 

 pules longer than the prickle. Branches obtuse-angled, even. 

 Native of the East Indies. 



71. Mimosa Semispinosa. Prickly: leaves bipinnate; 

 joints of the stem prickly above. Native of America. 



72. Mimosa Quadrivalvis. Prickly: leaves bipinnate; stem 

 quadrangular, with recurved prickles ; legumes four-valved. 

 This has a creeping root : stalks slender, having four acute 

 angles, armed pretty closely with short recurved spines: 

 leaves on long prickly footstalks, and thinly placed on the 

 branches. Native of La Vera Cruz. 



73. Mimosa Tenuifolia. Prickly: leaves bipinnate, partial 

 ones twenty paired ; pinnas many-paired. Native of South 

 America. 



74. Mimosa Ceratonia. Prickly : leaves pinnate, five- 

 paired ; partial ones three-paired : pinnas three-nerved. 

 Native of South America. 



75. Mimosa Tamarindifolia. Prickly : leaves bipinnate, 

 five-paired ; partial ones ten-paired ; petioles unarmed. 

 Native of America. 



76. Mimosa Sinuata. Prickly : leaves bipinnate, many- 

 paired; heads axillary, solitary; legumes sinuate; stem 

 climbing. Native of Cochin-china, in woods. 



77. Mimosa Saponaria ; Soap Mimosa. Unarmed : leaves 

 bigeminate and pinnate, leaflets ovate, acuminate, petioled ; 

 panicle terminating. This is an arboreous shrub, with spread- 

 ing unarmed branches. The bark yields excellent soap. 

 Native of Cochin-china, in woods. 



78. Mimosa Lutea; Yellow Mimosa. Prickly: leaves bi- 

 pinnate, smooth ; flowers globular, peduncled ; prickles very 

 long. Native of South America. 



79. Mimosa Angustissima ; Narrow-leaved Mimosa. Un- 

 armed: leaves bipinnate; pinnas very narrow, smooth; 

 legumes swelling. Native of South America. 



80. Mimosa Campeachiana; Split-horned Mimosa. 

 Thorny: leaves bipinnate; pinnas narrow, with thorns like 

 an ox's horn split lengthwise. This is one of the most singular 

 species yet known ; the spines being spread open and flat, 

 appearing as if split lengthwise. The leaves are very beauti- 

 ful ; but the flowers being small and of an herbaceous colour, 

 make no great appearance. In the natural place of its growth, 

 this tree produces flowers almost through the year ; and a 

 succession of pods is generally found on it: but the seeds are 

 commonly eaten by insects, before they come to maturity. 

 Native of South America. 



81. Mimosa Microphylla; Prickly Red Mimosa. Prickly 

 all over: leaves bipinnate, eight-paired; leaflets sixteen- 

 paired ; heads axillary, peduncled, solitary, or in pairs. 

 Native of Georgia and Carolina. 



82. Mimosa Nitida; Shining Mimosa. Thorny: leaves 

 bipinnate, two-paired, a gland between each; leaflets five- 

 paired ; spikes globular, peduncled. Branches round, purple, 

 rlexuose, pubescent. Native of the East Indies. 



83. Mimosa Umbellata ; Umbelled Mimosa. Thorny : 

 leaves conjugate and bipinnate, two-paired ; flowers umbelled ; 

 legumes spiral. This tree has round, smooth, dotted branches. 

 Native of Ceylon. 



84. Mimosa Proceros ; Large Mimosa. Trunk straight; 

 head very large and dense ; leaves alternate, twice feathered, 

 twelve to eighteen inches long'; panicles terminal and axillary, 



