SCORPIURUS, CATERPILLARS, in botany: A genus of the decandria order, belonging to the diadelphia
class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 32d order, Papilionaceae. The legumen is contracted by incisions on the inside betwixt every two seeds, revolute round.
There are four species; the most remarkable of which is the vermiculata, a native of Italy and Spain. It is an annual plant, with trailing herbaceous stalks, which at each joint have a spatular-shaped leaf with a long foot-stalk. From the wings of the leaves come out the foot-stalks of the flowers, which sustain at the top one yellow butterfly flower, succeeded by a thick twisted pod having the size and appearance of a larger caterpillar, from whence it had this title. This has long been preferred in the gardens of this country, more on account of its odd shape than for any great beauty. It is propagated by sowing the seeds on a bed of light earth; and when the plants come up, they must be kept free from weeds and thinned, so that there may be a foot distance between them.