1. BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION:
Plantae
Magnoliophyta Magnoliopsida Rosidae Fabales Mimosaceae
KINGDOM: Plantae
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta
CLASS: Magnoliopsida
SUBCLASS: Rosidae
ORDER: Fabales
FAMILY: Mimosaceae
2. COMMON NAMES:
English: Sensitive Plant, Sleeping
Grass
French: Sensitive
Latin : Mimosa Pudica Linn.
Other: Betguen Sosa (Guam);
Memege (Niue); Mechiuaiu (Palau); Limemeihr (Pohnpei); Ra Kau Pikikaa (Cook
Islands)
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Pictures by Lee Ling -Pohnpei, Microneia
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3. DESCRIPTION:
Native to Brazil,
this short lived evergreen sub shrub is usually treated as an annual.
It is grown for its curiosity value- the fern like leaves close up and
droop when touched, usually re-opening within minutes. It has prickly
stems and small, fluffy, ball shaped pink flowers in summer. It grows
to a height of 5 ft and spreads around 3 ft- a perennial plant,
it grows to a height of 0.5m with a spread of 0.3m. In
some areas this plant is becoming a noxious weed. The stem is erect,
slender and branching. The leaves are bipinnate, fern like and pale
green- closing when disturbed. The flowers are pale lilac pink, occurring
in globose heads and appearing in summer. Indigenous to the northern
hemisphere, it is adaptable to most soils in an open, sunny position, and
is drought and frost tender. Due to its ability to fix nitrogen from the
air it does well on poor soils. "Sensitive Plant" folds up its leaves
when touched or exposed to a flame. This plant requires a medium light
exposure, an evenly moist soil, and temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees.
One should use caution when handling seedlings because the plant dislikes
root disturbance. Mimosa may be difficult to grow and is sensitive to over
watering.
vstems- red-brown
prickly.
vleaves- immediately
fold by pulvini if touched, pinnae 4, often reddish, leaflets 12-25 pairs,
acute, bristly, 9-12mm long, 1.5mm wide.
vflowers- pink,
in globose heads, nearly 1cm in diameter, auxiliary, punduncle up to 2.5cm
long.
vpods- crowded,
flat, prickly, briskly.
vseeds- Bristles
on seed pod cling to fur and clothing, about 2 mm broad, rounded, brown.
4. HABITAT:
Mimosa pudica is common in rather moist waste ground,
in lawns, in open plantations, and weedy thicklets. It forms a dense
ground cover, preventing reproduction of other species. It is a wild
land fire hazard when dry.
Picture by Kyoto Shimbun Co, Ltd.
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5. CULTURE:
These frost-tender plants prefer full sun and moderately
fertile, well-drained soil. Water well during the growing period, and sparingly
in winter. Propagate from seed although summer cuttings are also practical.
Soak seeds during one day: place in a pot 6 cm in diameter and then transfer
to pots of 15 cm when the plant develops, or directly 3 to 6 seedlings
in a pot of 15 cm. The best seedling is selected when the plant reached
approximately 10 cm. One may cover the plant to maintain a humidity
sufficient in the pot.
6. PROPAGATION:
By seed or by cuttings. Seeds need to germinate- cover
the seeds with very hot water and let soak overnight or until they swell.
Pick out those that didn't swell and repeat this process with them. Sow
swollen seeds immediately in seeding mix, covering with two to three times
their thickness. Do not over water or allow to dry out and provide good
drainage and bright light. It should germinate within a few days
with pretreatment. Do not over water and keep humidity low or fungal problems
may occur.
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Pictures by St. Wendel 2000
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7. PRESENCE:
In Micronesia and American Samoa: American Samoa
(Tutuila, Ofu, reported to be present on Ta'u but not seen), Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan, Rota, Tinian), Federated States
of Micronesia (Chuuk (Weno, Fefan), Pohnpei, Yap), Guam, Republic of the
Marshall Islands (Kwajalein), Republic of Palau (Babeldaob, Koror).
In the Pacific: Cook Islands (Rarotonga), Fiji,
French Polynesia (Tahiti, Raitea), Hawai'i, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua
New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga (Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Vava’u
and throughout Tonga), Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Elsewhere: Australia, Christmas Island (Indian
Ocean), Mauritius, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Philippines.
8. NATIVE RANGE:
First described from Brazil, now a pan-tropical weed.
*1997
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9. CONTROL:
Chemical: "It is susceptible to several herbicides, including
dicamba, glyphosate, picloram and triclopyr" (Parsons and Cuthbertson,
1992).
10. PARASITES:
Cochineals are insects inside a cotonneuse mass.
One gets rid of them by progressively removing them using a cotton stem
soaked with alcohol. If the insects are too numerous, it is to better
sacrifice the plant and not to re-use the ground nor the pot.
Picture by Nomura Masato
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11. TRADITIONAL
USES:
A very popular ornamental due to its ability to close
the leaves upon being touched.
12. PHARMACOLOGY:
There hasn't been any information on this species so
far, but many other Mimosa species, such as Mimosa tenuiflora and Mimosa
scabrella are known to contain tryptamines in the roots. Recent reports
on the internet suggest that this may be the case with this species too.
14. TOXIC:
All seed is sold for botanical preservation purposes
only. All parts of this plant can be toxic and should not be ingested.
It is a very popular ornamental due to its ability to
close the leaves upon being touched.
15. IDENTITY:
Among the 400 tropical species of hot zone of American
origin of the Mimosa kind, some are grasses, bushes, lianas and others
of
the trees. Among them, Mimosa pudica L is a herbaceous
species which was largely naturalized throughout the world.
Distribution:
Bloom
Season: Summer
Conditions:
Full Sun
The plant is a native of tropical America, naturalized
nearly all through the tropical and
sub tropical parts of India.
Occurs at #9
16. OVERVIEW:
When learning about angiosperms and gymnosperms
in my biology lab class I became fascinated with plants. I also saw
a video on plants and animals having mutualistic relationships where I
learned that each flower has its own identity and use. Mimosa pudica
is among the 400 tropical species of hot zone of American origin of the
Mimosa kind, some are grasses, bushes, lianas and others of the trees.
Mimosa pudica blooms in the summer. It folds up its leaves
when it is touched or exposed to flame. This plant requires a medium light
exposure, an evenly moist soil, and temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees.
Mimosa is difficult to grow because it dislikes root disturbance. and is
sensitive to over-watering. Mimosa pudica is a beautiful flower and
to be truthful it is known for decoration purposes only. One cannot
eat the plant since it is believed to be toxic if ingested, nor can one
run in it since its stems are pricky. The bristles on the seed pod
which are flat and briskly also cling to your clothes. There have
been researches which show mimosa pudica to be a herbal medicine but it
hasn't proven itself to be able to treat anything- pharmaceutical companies
are still researching its properties and uses. In many places, Mimosa
Pudica is becoming a noxious weed, and it can be controlled with various
chemical herbicides such as dicamba. Mimosa pudica is also a host
to parasites such as Cochineals insects, one gets rid of the insects by
progressively removing them using a cotton stem soaked with alcohol, but
if the insects are too numerous, one much sacrifice the sensitive plant
and to not re-use the ground nor the pot on which it was cultured.
The plant must also be grown in low humidity or it may also have fungal
problems. I find this plant interesting because it appears to be
sensitive and weak to one's touch yet is very powerful and defensive because
of its bristled seed pods. I'm not too fond of this plant because
it's dangerous for children to play in, difficult to cultivate, and is
becoming a weed in many areas such as Brazil. I hope that Mimosa
Pudica will one day be recognized as a medical plant and will therefore
be admired as being beautiful and useful.
17. OTHER
SPECIES OF GENUS MIMOSA:
Calliandra Inaeqilatera Mimosaceae by Gerald Carr
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Samanea Saman Mimosaceae by Gerald Carr
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Samanea Saman Mimosaceae by Gerald Carr
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Leucaena Leucocephala Mimosaceae by Gerald Carr
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other species not pictured includes:
albida
debilis
diplotricha
dormiens
ervendbergii
guilandinae
myriadena |
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VIEWERS:
If you have any questions or comments concerning Mimosa Pudica or this
web page, please don't hesitate to email me at lynh01@yahoo.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Burgess, Rob "Biology Department" for getting me connected
on this site and showing me how to use the web tools.
Ewe, Sharon "BIL 161 Honors TA" for being so enthusiastic,
and for taking us out of class so we can learn more and appreciate our
environment.
Turner& Wasson "Botanica" CD Rom version, 1997
The State of Queensland (Department of Natural Resourse)
Pest Fact Sheet 2001
