MIMOSA PUDICA - ONE SHY PLANT
With some crazy flowers that almost remind me of the flower from Horton Hears a Who, this plant is a most peculiar specimen indeed!
In the undisturbed wilds of Asia and the Americas there lives a peculiar plant that would rather not be handled.
Known by many names such as the "shame plant," "sensitive plant," "shy plant" or "touch-me-not", the Mimosa Pudica has a most interesting characteristic. The plant itself looks like just another tiny plant with compound leaves.
It also will flower with wonderful pink, poofy, flowers that look a bit like pink dandelions when they go to seed.
The peculiar characteristic, though, is not noticed until you touch the leaves.
Once the leaves are touched, they begin to close.
Within seconds the leaves fold almost completely shut. Here is a video of me touching the leaves so you can see for yourself how quickly they will fold closed.
MIMOSA PUDICA VIDEO
A LITTLE MORE ON THE MIMOSA PUDICA
Before I share a little more about its bashful nature, it is worth pointing out that the stem of this little plant is covered in thorns. If you walk around barefoot, you just might find some without even seeing it.
Although scientists can now understand how the plant responds to touch, the why is still left to speculation. A few of the theories are that it could be a way for the plant to interfere with insects that would otherwise crawl on it and eat its leaves, or that the quick movement may be a way to scare larger herbivores that may think twice about eating such a reactive plant. Either way, this plant has certainly been given a rare capability that has fascinated millions.
The plants in this post were videoed and photographed near our friend's house in Missouri. Interestingly enough, we actually have some growing on the land that we just purchased too!
Have any of you ever seen this plant before? Have you touched it and seen it respond? The photos and info in this post are original, but I did do a little research by reading more about it at this source.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-one-shy-plant
Until next time…
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Papa-Pepper....ANOTHER nice post!
^^^JUST UPVOTED^^^
Great shots @papa-pepper! I admire the mimosa plants and their leaves are very unique. Some smell very fragrant, we have friends who have a giant mimosa tree in their front yard. We tried to take a seedling of it and plant it in our yard but it sadly died. Now we have a thriving chestnut tree which we found out was endangered at one time in New England!
The Mimosa tree is beautiful too - I agree! I saw a lot of them in bloom today!
The plant says 'touch me not' @papa-pepper...lol
LOL! Yet I still touch!
Wow fascinating to watch! Do you know if the leaves open up again?
the leaves do open up again after a while.
Don't get too close with your face. You will be picking thorns out from your beard! Good Post!
I have to do that anyway... today it was Blackberry bushes!
Never seen one before. Very interesting though. Thanks for the share. Pretty color on the flower.
Have a look @raybrockman
what the...that plant has a brain?
It is nature. I think plants also study us.
Amazing!
Wow!
It is an interesting plant and a pretty flower too! Thanks!
I've seen and touched this plant before though this is the first time I heard about its scientific name. People in my area have always called it the touch-me not plant and the shy plant. Most likely it makes that movement to protect itself from predators. Plants normally make adaptations to protect themselves such as roses have thorns to protect themselves from herbivores.
I'm with you on the self-defense theory. When the leaves close up, the thorns on the stems would be more prominent.
Yes, I agree with you on that aspect. The leaves closing up though are probably more effective against smaller insects looking to feed on its leaves.
Well how about that. Cool beans. Good post. Thanks
XD LOL!
@Papa-Pepper an exellent post ....