Vern. Chui Mui, Lajwanti.

A low spreading shrub, branches hairy and prickly, hairs glandular. Leaf very sensitive; stipulate, stipules linear-lanceolate, c. 7-8 mm long; rachis c. 2.5 cm long, grooved and prickly, pinnae 1-2 pairs, c. 2.5-5 cm long, sessile, situated at the end of the rachis; leaflets 12-20 pairs, sessile, 6-8 mm long, c. 5-6 mm broad coriaceous, linear-acute, glabrous above, hairy on the margin and below. Flowers in peduncled more or less globose heads, yellow, peduncle 2-2.5 cm long; densely hairy, head c. 6-8 mm in diameter solitary or in axillary pairs along the branches, bracts small, linear-acute. Calyx minute. Corolla pink c. 2-3 mm long, divided into 4 obtuse lobes. Stamens 4, much exserted. Fruit c. 12-18 mm long, c. 2-4 mm broad, flat, recurved, having 3-5 or 1 seeded parts, glabrous, light brown; joints separating from the persistent, spinous sutures.

Fl. Per. September-October.

Lectotype: Cultivated in Hort. Cliffort., Linnaeus (BM,).

Distribution: Probably native of S. America; cultivated in gardens of West Pakistan.

The plant has been tried as green manure. It is said to have medicinal proper-ties also. Because of the sensitivity of the aerial parts it is valued as an interesting ornamental plant.