Common name
English: Brazilian jointvetch
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae (2715)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2630)
Class: Magnoliopsida (2217)
Order: Fabales (244)
Family: Fabaceae (244)(family description)
Genus: Aeschynomene (1)
Epithet: brasiliana (Poir.) DC. (3)
Synonyms: Aeschynomene biflora (Mill.) Fawc. & Rendle, Aeschynomene guaricana Pittier, Aeschynomene paucijuga DC., Cassia biflora Mill., Cassia houstoniana Collad., Hedysarum brasilianum Poir., Hedysarum hirtum Vell.
biflora => two-flowered
brasiliana => of Brazilian origin
brasilianum => of Brazilian origin
guaricana => of the Guarani, South American Indians
hirtum => hairy, shaggy, rough, rude, unpolished
houstoniana => in honor of William Houstoun (1695-1733), Scottish physician and botanist
paucijuga => few-paired
Characteristics
Climate: tropical
Habit: herb
Flower colour: yellow