MIMOSA. 283 



" that courteous tree 



Which bows to all who seek its canopy." 



T. MOORE. 



" Looke as the Feeling-plant, which learned swaines 

 Relate to growe on the East Indian plaines, 

 Shrinkes up his dainty leaves if any sand 

 You throw thereon, or touch it with your hand." 



W. BROWNE. 



The most irritable part of the plant is in the foot-stalk, 

 between the stem and the leaflet. During the night they 

 remain in the same state as when touched in the daytime ; 

 yet, if touched then, will fold their leaves still closer. 



Miller, in one of the earlier editions of his Dictionary, 

 speaks of a Calabrian philosopher who was driven mad by 

 considering the mysterious nature of this plant : " Just," 

 continues he, " as Aristotle is said to have flung himself 

 headlong into the sea, because he could not comprehend the 

 ebbing and flowing thereof." 



When any of the upper leaves are touched, if in falling 

 they touch those below them, these also will contract and 

 fall ; so that by touching- one another, they will continue 

 to fall for some time. Mimosas are very common in the 

 woods of Brazil : of one of the species, of which the wood 

 is very light, the Indians make their canoes*. 



The thorns of some of the Mimosas are very long, and 

 are called, by the inhabitants of the Cape, Dornbush, or 

 Thornbush. Latrobe speaks of one with which many parts 

 of the country were nearly covered, with " thorns from four 

 to six inches long, placed two and two, in an angle of 

 ninety degrees ; out of the inner centre of which proceeds, 



* See Prince Maximilian's Travels in Brazil. This author speaks 

 of these Mimosas as growing to a size even colossal, and diffusing a 

 delicious perfume; which, together with that of the magnificent creep- 

 ing plants generally interwoven with their branches, attracts a great 

 number of butterflies and humming-birds, which hover about them 

 like bees. 



