Plant · GBIF taxon 2969284
Sensitive Plant
Mimosa pudicaAlso known as Shameplant, Touch-Me-Not, Sleeping Grass, Humble Plant
Sensitive plants are creeping perennial herbs famed for their rapid leaf movements in response to touch, heat, or vibration. Special fluid-filled cells at the base of each leaflet lose turgor pressure instantaneously upon stimulation, causing the delicate foliage to fold inward and droop. Fluffy pink pom-pom flowers bloom throughout warmer months, giving way to spiny seed pods that disperse easily on passing animal fur.
SensoryFloweringTropical
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Nutrients
Predators
- Caterpillars
- Spider Mites
- Grazing Herbivores
ThreatsHerbicides, Weeding
HabitatsGrasslands, Disturbed Ground, Roadsides, Tropical Forests
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderFabales
- FamilyFabaceae
- GenusMimosa
- SpeciesMimosa pudica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Touch Gently: Lightly brush a leaf tip to watch the rapid collapse fold down the entire compound leaf stem.
- Patience for Reopening: Leaves typically regain fluid pressure and reopen within 10 to 30 minutes after disturbance.
- Watch Night Moves: Observe foliage at dusk to see natural sleep movement occur without physical touch.
Close Relative (c) Alison Northup, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alison Northup · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Thomaz Ricardo Favreto Sinani, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomaz Ricardo Favreto Sinani · cc-by
Family Member (c) Andrew Butko, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Photo by David J. Stang, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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