A genus of tropical and subtropical plants in the legume family, with sensitive leaves that fold when touched or at night.
From Greek aischyn- (shame, bashfulness) + nomin (custom, law), literally meaning 'the shameful one.' Named because the leaves 'blush' or fold as if embarrassed by being touched.
Aeschynomene plants have 'sensitive' leaves that snap shut instantly when touched, originally mystifying Europeans—they thought the plants were conscious or alive in an unusual way, leading some to suspect they were gateways to magical plant intelligence.
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