Codariocalyx motorius

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Diaphoretickes
Cladus: CAM
Cladus: Archaeplastida
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Faboideae
Tribus: Desmodieae
Subtribus: Desmodiinae
Genus: Codariocalyx
Species: Codariocalyx motorius
Name

Codariocalyx motorius (Houtt.) H.Ohashi, 1965
Synonyms

Codariocalyx gyrans (L.f.) Hassk.
Codariocalyx motorius var. glaber X.Y.Zhu & Y.F.Du
Codariocalyx motorius var. roylei (Wight & Arn.) Ohashi
Desmodium gyrans (L.f.) DC.
Desmodium motorium (Houtt.) Merr.
Desmodium roylei Wight & Arn.
Hedysarum gyrans L.f.
Hedysarum motorium Houtt.
Hedysarum saliens Salisb.
Meibomia gyrans (L.f.) Kuntze
Pseudarthria gyrans (L.f.) Hassk.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: Indian subcontinenta
Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, West Himalaya
Regional: China
China South-Central, China Southeast
Continental: Asia-Tropical
Regional: Southeastern Asia
Borneo, Cambodia, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
Introduced into:
Jamaica, Society Is.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Ohashi, H., 1965. Journal of Japanese Botany. [Shokubutsu Kenkyu Zasshi]. Tokyo 40:367.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Codariocalyx motorius in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Nov 17. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. Nov 17. Codariocalyx motorius. Published online. Accessed: {{{3}}} Nov 17. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2020. Codariocalyx motorius. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 17 Nov 2020.
Catalogue of Life: 2024 Annual Checklist
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Codariocalyx motorius in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
বাংলা: বনচাঁড়াল
suomi: Lennätinkasvi

Codariocalyx motorius (though often placed in Desmodium[1]), known as the telegraph plant, dancing plant, or semaphore plant, is a tropical Asian shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae), one of a few plants capable of rapid movement; others include Mimosa pudica, the venus flytrap and Utricularia. The motion occurs in daylight hours when the temperature is above 72 °F (22 °C). Many sources claim that the two leaflets move on a common axis (like the blades of a kayak paddle) even though there is no rigid connection between them.[2]

It is widely distributed throughout Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It can even be found on the Society Islands, a remote chain of islands in the South Pacific. It produces small, purple flowers which turn orange with time.[3] This plant has small, lateral leaflets which move at speeds rapid enough to be perceivable with the naked eye. This is possibly a strategy to maximise light by tracking the sun.[4][5] Each leaf is equipped with a hinge that permits it to be moved to receive more sunlight, but the weight of these leaves means the plant must expend a lot of energy in moving it. To optimise its movement, each large leaf has two small leaflets at its base. These move constantly along an elliptical path, sampling the intensity of sunlight, and directing the large leaf to the area of most intensity. Another hypothesis has been offered that the rapid movements are intended to deter potential predators.[6] It has also been suggested that these movements may be a form of butterfly mimicry to prevent the laying of butterfly eggs on the plant's leaves.[7]

The common name is due to the rotation of the leaflets with a period of about three to five minutes; this was likened to a semaphore telegraph, a structure with adjustable paddles that could be seen from a distance, the position of which conveyed a message in semaphore,[8][9][10] hence the common names.
Branch during day (left) and night (right)

The plant is described in detail in Charles Darwin's 1880 The Power of Movement in Plants.
Usage

Due to its special characteristic that it can "dance", the plant has been used as ornament in gardening, in which some are made as bonsais.

Apart from ornamental value, the plant also has medical value, due to its leaves, stems[11][12] and roots containing small amounts of tryptamine alkaloids, especially DMT and 5-MeO-DMT.
References

"Codariocalyx motorius". International Legume Database & Information Service. November 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
Chittendon, Fred J.; Synge, Patrick M. (1965). The Royal Hort. Soc. Dictionary of Gardening - Volume 2. Oxford, Eng.: Clarendon Press. p. 663.
Allen, O.N. and Ethel K. (1981). The Leguminosae - A Sourcebook of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation. Madison, Wisconsin: Univ. of Wisc. Press. p. 174. ISBN 0-299- 08400-0.
"Codariocalyx motorius (Houtt.) H.Ohashi". University of Connecticut. July 2018.
"CODARIOCALYX MOTORIUS (DESMODIUM GYRANS: LA PLANTA DE BAILE)". Casa de Flores. May 2013. Archived from the original on 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
Simcha Lev-Yadun. "The enigmatic fast leaflet rotation in Desmodium motorium: Butterfly mimicry for defense?" Plant Signaling & Behavior, 2013. "[1]
Lev-Yadun, Simcha (2013-06-01). "The enigmatic fast leaflet rotation in Desmodium motorium". Plant Signaling & Behavior. 8 (6): e24473. Bibcode:2013PlSiB...8E4473L. doi:10.4161/psb.24473. PMC 3908938. PMID 23603964.
"Mystery of the Dancing Plant: Perhaps the Most Mystical Pea Plant since Jack's Magic Beanstalk". The Evergreen State College.
D'Amato, Peter (January 2016). "The Telegraph Plant by Peter D'Amato". California Carnivores. Archived from the original on 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
Lowry, Connor (July 2013). "Weird and Unusual Plant: The Dancing Plant (Codariocalyx Motorius)". fun flower facts. Archived from the original on 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
"Codariocalyx motorius (Houtt.) H. Ohashi". asia-medicinalplants.info. Archived from the original on 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
"CODARIOCALYX MOTORIUS (DESMODIUM GYRANS)". casadeflores.es. Archived from the original on 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2018-07-25.