Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-02-29
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.

Interesting Description or This Wonderful
Specimen of the Vegetable Kingdom.
The sensitive plant is name commonly
applied to certain species of mimosd,
charming leguminous plant, possessing a
delicacy of sensation which we should hard
ly imagine meeting in the Vegetable king
dom. Many, in fact nearly all species of
mimosa possess this peculiar property to
greater or less degree; but it is more par
ticularly noticeable in the herbaceous va
riety indigenous TO our Western prairies
and number of species which are native
OF the Brazilian nanos. Endowed with truly
wonderful sensibllity, many of the mimosas
have, seemingly, outstretched the confines
OF vegetable life, and rival in acuteness of
feellng the coral polyps and the sea-anem-
ones OF the submarine gardens. The
plants we see raised in the hot-houses of
our Northern zone can give but faint idea
Of the beauty which these I" loveliest chill
dren of Flora in the matchless elegance of
their foliage" attain under the fostering in
huence of a tropical sun. With branches
extending horizontally, the leaves beauti-
fuly divided, again and again primate, with
numerous small leaflets, each of the pima
being surmounted by delicate cluster of
rose-hued flowers, and the light from the
blue sky above shining through the light
est works Of art, the effect is extremely
picturesque.
But at the approach of horseman or 9TH
er unusual visitant to one of the large
tracts OF the sensitive plants which COM
pletely cover large portions of the llanos of
Brazil, we observe the exhibition of phe-
nomenon which will produce profound as
tonishment. The branches of the nearest
plants droop SUCCESSFULLY towurds the earth
and manifest every sign Of very great dis
turbance. AS if by magic the contraction
OF the delicate green leaves and equally
fragile branches extends in quivering cir
cles OF constantly increasing perimeter, un-
til the astounded bcholder, overwhelmed
with amazement, sees the entire field sink
as though it were struck by profound
stupor. When the disturbing cause has de-
parted or remained for while motionless,
the plants begin to gradually raise their
heads and unfold their leaves, uuiverinp
and trembling, as though not fully recov-
cred from the shock, until, after a short
time, theE serenity IS restored. One va
rlety is so sensitive that the atmospheric
changes produce like effect upon it. The
advent of an approaching storm Is thus 40
curately prognosticated; the mimosa clos
ing sometimes before its arrival and not
opening until it has passed.
Another phenomenon exhibited by this
remarkable plant, and one which might
be considered even more extraordinary
than the foregoing, is that The plant
appears to know how to adapt itself to
various circumstances. The French natural
ist Desfontaines, having placed one in his
carriage on journey, observed that all the
leaves contracted as soon as it felt the
shaking of the wheels. Then, strange as it
may appear, as the motion continued the
mimosa, recovering from it's fright, grad
ually opened it's leaves and so continued un-
til the carriage stopped; when the sudden
change produced another contraction, the
sensitive leaves unfolding shortly after.
CHAs. ID. PENDELL-