ANIMATED HEDYSARUM, 
O R T H E 
MOVING PLANT. 
Generic Character. 
Keel of the Corolla tranfverfely obtufe. 
Legume with fingle-feeded joints. 
Specific Character. 
HEDYSARUM with ternate leaves. 
The plant of which a figure is here given was fome 
years backwards tranfmitted to us from the interior 
parts of Bengal, and ftruck the European Naturalifts 
with aftonifhment at a phenomenon till then unknown 
amonglt vegetables ; viz. a conftant and voluntary 
motion ; unconnected with any peculiar irritability, as 
in the fenfitive plants and fome others, and neither ac¬ 
celerated or retarded by external caufes. The motion 
confifts in the alternate meeting and receding of the 
two fmall appendages or leafets fituated on each fide 
the footftalks, and which are engaged in this gentle 
exercife during the greateft part of the day. 
In our own country, horvever, it is not always that 
the fpecimensof this curious plant, in an air fo differ¬ 
ent from that of their native regions, exhibit themlelves 
to advantage : they frequently feel the benumbing ef- 
feAs 
