ÆSCHYNOMENE, BASTARD SENSITIVE-PLANT; a genus of the decandria order, belonging to the diadelphia class of plants. Of this genus they are reckoned six
Species. 1. The aspera (as well as the rest of this genus) is a native of warm countries. It rises to the height of four or five feet, having a single herbaceous stalk, which is rough in some parts. The leaves come out on every side towards the top, forming a sort of head; the flowers come out between the leaves, two or three together upon long footstalks; they are yellow, and shaped like those of pease: after the flower is past, the germin becomes a flat jointed pod, which, when ripe, parts at the joints, and in each division is lodged a single kidney-shaped seed. 2. The Americana, seldom rises more than two feet in height. The flowers come out from the leaves on branching footstalks, five or six together; these are much less than the former, and of a paler yellow colour. The seed is lodged in pods like the other. 3. The arborea, grows to the height of six or seven feet, with a single stem; the flowers come out two or three together, of a copper colour, and as large as those of the aspera. 4. The ferban hath woody stems, and branches garnished with smooth leaves. The flowers are small, of a deep yellow colour, and come out in long spikes hanging downward. The seed is contained in a smooth pod, not jointed. 5. The pumila, rises to the height of about three feet; has flowers of a pale yellow colour, which come out sometimes single, at other times two or three upon each foot stalk. The seeds are contained in a long falcated pod having 13 or 14 divisions, each of which lodges a single seed. 6. The grandiflora, rises six or eight feet high, with a woody stem, sending out branches towards the top, garnished with obtuse leaves. The flowers are large, yellow, and succeeded by large pods containing kidney-shaped seeds.
Culture. These plants are propagated by seeds, which should be sown early in the spring, on a hot-bed; and when the plants have strength enough to be removed, they should each be put into a separate pot filled with light earth, and plunged into a hot-bed. As they increase in size, they must be removed into larger pots; but if these are too large, the plants will not thrive. They must be brought forward early in the year, otherwise the second kind will not perfect its seed.