Mimosa pudica
1906305
223848225
2008-07-06T03:33:46Z
203.200.35.32
/* Plant movement */
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Mimosa pudica''
| image = Mimosapudica.png
| image_width = frameless
| image_caption = (''Mimosa pudica'')<br />Flower-head
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Mimosoideae]]
| genus = ''[[Mimosa]]''
| species = '''''M. pudica'''''
| binomial = ''Mimosa pudica''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?24405
|title=Mimosa pudica information from NPGS/GRIN
|publisher=www.ars-grin.gov
|accessdate=2008-03-27
|last=
|first=
}}
</ref>
}}
'''''Mimosa pudica''''' ('''Sensitive Plant''') (''pudica'' = shy), is a creeping annual or perennial herb often grown for its curiosity value: the compound leaves fold inward and droop when touched, re-opening within minutes. The species is native to [[South America]] and [[Central America]], but is now a pantropical weed.
==Description==
[[Image:SeedsMimosa pudica.jpg|thumb|left|Mimosa Pudica Seeds]]
[[Image:Pudica Juvenile.JPG|thumb|left|New Sprouted Mimosa Pudica]]
The stem is erect in young plants, but becomes creeping or trailing with age. The stem is slender, branching, and sparsely to densely prickly, growing to a length of 1.5 m (5 ft).
The leaves are [[Pinnate|bipinnately]] compound, with one or two pinnae pairs, and 10-26 leaflets per pinna. The petioles are also prickly. [[Peduncle (botany)|Pedunculate]] (stalked) pale pink or purple [[Head (botany)|flower heads]] arise from the leaf axils. The globose to ovoid heads are 8-10 mm in diameter (excluding the stamens). On close examination, it is seen that the floret petals are red in their upper part and the filaments are pink to lavender. The [[fruit]] consists of clusters of 2-8 pods from 1-2 cm long each, these prickly on the margins. The pods break into 2-5 segments and contain pale brown seeds some 2.5 mm long. The flowers are pollinated by the wind and insects.<ref name=Forest>{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Mimosa%20pudica.pdf |title=''Mimosa pudica'' L. |accessdate=2008-03-25|publisher=US Forest Service}}</ref>
===Plant movement===
''Mimosa pudica'' is well known for its [[rapid plant movement]]. In the evening the leaflets will fold together and the whole leaf droops downward. It then re-opens at sunrise. This type of motion has been termed '''''nyctinastic movement'''''. The leaves also close up under various other stimuli, such as touching, warming, or shaking. The stimulus can also be transmitted to neighbouring leaves. These types of movements have been termed '''''[[seismonastic movements]]'''''. The movement is caused by "a rapid loss of pressure in strategically situated cells that cause the leaves to droop right before one’s eyes".<ref name=Ombrello/> This characteristic is quite common within the [[Mimosaceae]] family.
==Taxonomy and nomenclature==
''Mimosa pendula'' was first formally described by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in ''[[Species Plantarum]]'' in 1753.<ref name>{{APNI | name =''Mimosa pudica''| id =20037 }}</ref> The species epithet, ''pudica'', is [[Latin]] for "bashful" or "shrinking", alluding to its shrinking reaction to contact.
===Common names===
The species is known by numerous common names including
*'''sensitive plant'''<ref name=GRIN>{{cite web | title= ''Mimosa pudica'' L.|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?24405 | work=Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area|accessdate=2008-03-22}}</ref>
*'''humble plant'''<ref name=GRIN/>
*'''shameplant'''<ref name=GRIN/>
*'''sleeping grass'''<ref name=Usambara/>
*'''touch-me-not'''<ref name=GRIN/>.
The [[Chinese language|Chinese]] name for this plant translates to "shyness grass".<ref>[http://forum.watmm.com/index.php?s=6fd5431c2b98d41a524cfe7901af5a2f&showtopic=22207&st=25&p=462807&#entry462807 Amazing Plants! - We Are The Music Makers Forums<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Its [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]] name is ''Nidikumba'', where 'nidi' means 'sleep'<ref>[http://mahmoodsgarden.com/plant-files/mimosa-pudica/ Mimosa pudica<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Its [[Tamil language|Tamil]] name is ''Thottal Sinungi'', where 'Thottal' means 'touched' and 'Sinungi' means 'little cry'<ref>[http://www.indusladies.com/forums/blogs/chitvish/touch-me-not-179/?page=2 Touch me not! - IndusLadies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Other non-English common names include Makahiya (Philippines, with maka- meaning "quite" or "tendency to be", and -hiya meaning "shy", or "shyness"){{Fact|date=March 2008}}, ''Mori Vivi''<ref name=Ombrello>{{cite web|title=The Sensitive Plant|url=http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/sensitive_plant.htm|publisher=Union County College Biology Department|accessdate=2008-03-22}}</ref> (West Indies), and ''mate-loi'' (false death){{Fact|date=March 2008}} ([[Tonga]]).
==Distribution==
The species is native to [[South America]] and [[Central America]]. It has been introduced to many other regions and is regarded as an [[invasive species]] in [[Tanzania]], [[South Asia]] and [[South East Asia]] and many [[Pacific Islands]] <ref name=Usambara>{{cite web |url=http://www.tropical-biology.org/research/dip/species/Mimosa%20pudica.htm |title=Mimosa pudica |work= Usambara Invasive Plants |accessdate=2008-03-25 |publisher=Tropical Biology Association}}</ref>. It is also regarded as invasive in parts of [[Australia]]. It is a declared weed in the [[Northern Territory]]<ref>>{{cite web |url=http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/natres/weeds/ntweeds/declared.html |title=Declared Weeds in the NT - Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts |accessdate=2008-03-25 }}</ref>, a declared plant in [[Western Australia]], although not naturalised there<ref>{{cite web|url=http://agspsrv95.agric.wa.gov.au/dps/version02/01_plantview.asp?page=7&contentID=60& |title=Declared Plants- Sensitive plant common (Mimosa pudica) |accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref>, and control is recommended in [[Queensland]].<ref name=Biosecurity>{{cite web |url=http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xbcr/dpi/IPA-Common-Sensitive-Plant-PP38.pdf |title=Common Sensitive Plant |accessdate=2008-03-25 |work=Invasive plants and animals|publisher=Biosecurity Queensland}}</ref>
The species has also been introduced to [[Nigeria]], [[Seychelles]], [[Mauritius]] and [[East Asia]] but is not regarded as invasive in those places.<ref name=Usambara/>
==Agricultural impacts==
The species can be a troublesome weed in tropical crops, particularly when fields are hand cultivated. Dry thickets may become a fire hazard.<ref name=Forest/> In some cases it has become a forage plant although the variety in [[Hawaii]] is reported to be toxic to livestock.<ref name=Forest/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hear.org/pier/species/mimosa_pudica.htm |title=''Mimosa pudica'' (PIER species info) |accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref>
==Cultivation==
In cultivation, this plant is most often grown as an indoor [[Annual plant|annual]], but is also grown for groundcover. Propagation is generally by seed.
==Uses==
''Mimosa pudica'' is sold as an educational product and novelty gift sometimes under the trademark name '''TickleMe Plant'''.<ref name=National Gardening Association>{{cite web|title=The TickleMe Plant|url=http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/14-1030.htm|publisher=The National Gardening Association|accessdate=2008-03-22}}</ref>
===Medicinal properties===
The plant '''lajjalu''' described in [[Ayurveda]] has been identified as ''Mimosa pudica''.{{Dubious|contradiction|date=March 2008}} This plant has several alternate [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] common names, including ''Namaskari'', and ''Rakta Paadi''.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
In Ayurveda, the plant is described as ''a plant which folds itself when touched and spreads its leaves once again after a while.'' It is said to have a bitter and astringent taste, and has a history of use for the treatment of various ailments. Most commonly used is the root, but leaves, flowers, bark, and fruit can also be implemented.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
A list of some of the notable chemical compounds found in ''Mimosa pudica'' can be found here: [http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=625].
===Ayurvedan Properties (''guna'') of Lajjalu===
*Has ''tikta'' and ''kashaya rasa'' (bitter and astringent taste).{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
*Has property of cold (''sheetha'').{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
*Balances ''[[kapha]]'', ''[[pitta]]''.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
*Shushrutha has placed this plant in ''Priyangwambhastaadi'' gana.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
<gallery>
Image:Mimosa pudica open.JPG|<center>''Mimosa pudica'' with leaves open</center>
Image:Mimosa pudica closed.JPG|<center>''Mimosa pudica'' with leaves closed</center>
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Exotic plants]]
*''[[Mimosa pigra]]''
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons}}
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* [http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/name/Mimosa_pudica View occurrences of ''Mimosa pudica''] in the Biodiversity Heritage Library
* [http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/sensitive_plant.htm Sensitive Plant] by Dr. T. Ombrello
* [http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/records/rec117.htm Nyctinasty and Mimosa leaf movement] by John Hewitson
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiVkpZiV6gY Video of Mimosa reacts when touched]
* Videos of the sensitive plant [http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/movements/nastic/mimosa/mimosa.html 1] [http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/movements/nastic/mimosa/strongmimosa.html 2]
* Streaming video of plant. [http://www.guba.com/watch/3000040973]
* Video mimosa pudica in Bornéo [http://www.ethnoplants.com/mimosa-pudica]
[[Category:Mimosoideae]]
[[Category:Flora of Brazil]]
[[Category:Ayurveda]]
[[Category:Flora of Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[zh-min-nan:Kiàn-siàu-chháu]]
[[bg:Срамежлива мимоза]]
[[ca:Sensitiva]]
[[de:Mimose]]
[[es:Mimosa pudica]]
[[fr:Sensitive]]
[[ko:미모사 (식물)]]
[[hsb:Mimoza]]
[[id:Putri malu]]
[[lt:Jautrioji mimoza]]
[[ml:തൊട്ടാവാടി]]
[[ms:Pokok Semalu]]
[[nl:Kruidje-roer-me-niet]]
[[ja:オジギソウ]]
[[pt:Dormideira]]
[[tl:Makahiya]]
[[te:అత్తిపత్తి]]
[[vi:Cỏ trinh nữ]]
[[to:Mateloi]]
[[ur:چھوئی موئی]]
[[zh:含羞草]]