Mimosa pudica

Mimosa pudica, Linn. Sensitive Plant. Humble Plant. Fig. 2375. Cult.as an annual, but probably perennial in the tropics, and somewhat shrubby, erect, branching, hairy and spiny: lvs. long-petioled, with 2 or 4 subdigitate pinnate linear-oblong lfts.: fls. many, in globular-oblong heads on elongating axillary peduncles, purplish: pods comprising 3 or 4 spiny joints. Brazil, but widely naturalized in warm countries; run wild in the Gulf States. G.W. 2, p. 18.—Easily grown from seeds, which are sold by seedsmen. The plant grows readily in any place in which garden beans will thrive. It is grown for its sensitive foliage. The movements are usually quickest in young plants. When the lvs. are touched, the petiole falls and the lfts. close. The utility and the origin of these movements are not well understood. M. sensitiva, Linn., is a distinct plant (B.R. 25): it is a half - climbing perennial with 2 unequally pinnate lfts., not so sensitive as M. pudica. The word pudica is Latin for modest or bashful.

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