Volume 4 — PLATE CCXXXV. MIMOSA DISCOLOR. Two-coloured leaved Mimosa.

CLASS XXIII. ORDER I.

POLYGAMIA MONOECIA. Various dispositions: Upon one plant.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Hermaph. Calyx 5-dentatus. Cor. 5-fida.

Stamina 5 seu plura. Pist. 1. Legumen.

Masc. Calyx 5-dentatus. Cor. 5-fida.

Stamina 5, 10, plura.

Hermaph. Cup 5-toothed. Blossom 5-cleft.

Chives 5 or more. Pointal 1. A pod.

Male. Calyx 5-toothed. Blossom 5-cleft.

Chives 5, 10, or more.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Mimosa inermis; foliis bipinnatis, sexjugis, bicoloribus; pinnis acutis, æqualibus; spicis axillaribus; capitulis globosis; siliquis latissimis, planis.

Mimosa without spines; leaves doubly winged, in six pairs, and two coloured; wings sharp pointed and equal; spikes grow from the insertion of the leaves; small heads globular; pods very broad and flat.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement, natural size.

2. The same, magnified.

3. A Blossom.

4. A Chive, magnified.

5. The Pointal natural size, from an hermaphrodite flower.

6. The same, magnified.

In the year 1788 the seeds of this plant were received, from New South Wales, by a number of persons; and were raised, the same year, by most of those who sowed the seeds. The character of the plant from whence it derives its specific title is much lost in its advanced state; but in the first two or three years of its growth, it is extremely powerful; the under part of the young leaves being of a bright purple. It is extremely difficult to propagate from cuttings; and it has not, as yet, perfected its seeds in England. It grows to the height of six or seven feet; is a hardy green-house plant; and thrives most in sandy peat earth. Our figure was made from a very fine specimen, communicated by the Hon. W. H. Irby, in September 1801, from his elegant collection at the Parsonage, Farnham Royal, near Windsor, Bucks.