Aeschynomene
noun
Aes·chy·nom·e·ne
ˌe-skə-ˈnä-mə-(ˌ)nē
: a genus of shrubs and herbs (family Leguminosae) widely distributed in warm regions and having jointed pods and pinnate and often sensitive leaves see sensitive joint vetch, sola
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek aischynomenē sensitive plant, from aischynē shame + -menē (from menos mind); from the fact that the leafstalks droop when touched
First Known Use
1760, in the meaning defined above