telegraph plant

American  

noun

1. a tick trefoil, Desmodium motorium, of the legume family, native to tropical Asia, noted for the spontaneous, jerking, signallike motions of its leaflets.

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telegraph plant British  

noun

1. a small tropical Asian leguminous shrub, Desmodium gyrans, having small leaflets that turn in various directions during the day and droop at night

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Etymology

Origin of telegraph plant

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

They also had a “telegraph plant,” a bush from the Philippines with paddle-like leaves that turn back and forth in the sun fast enough to be seen by the naked eye.

From Washington Post

The telegraph plant swivels its leaves to maximize exposure to sunlight, adjusting so quickly that you can see the leaves moves in real time.

From Scientific American

The existence of these spontaneous movements could easily be demonstrated by means of the Indian "Bon Charal", the telegraph plant, whose small leaflets danced continuously up and down.

From Project Gutenberg

Public utilities include gas and electric light works, waterworks, telephone and telegraph plants, and electric and steam railways.

From Project Gutenberg