Sensitive-plant (Mimosa pudica, Sp. Pl.: 518 (1753))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 518 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Mimosa

Vegetable: False

Observations: Mexico to Trop. America

Description

Sensitive-plant, scientifically known as Mimosa pudica, is a fascinating member of the Fabaceae family. This unique plant has garnered attention for its intriguing and responsive behavior upon being touched or disturbed. Its delicate, fern-like leaves fold inward and droop when stimulated, a defense mechanism believed to protect it from potential harm from herbivores and environmental factors.

Originally described in 1753 by the eminent botanist Carl Linnaeus, whose abbreviation “L.” often follows botanical names in recognition of his contributions, Mimosa pudica holds a significant place in botanical literature. Its scientific classification can be traced back to the publication “Species Plantarum” on page 518.

The Sensitive-plant is native to a wide geographic range, extending from Mexico through to tropical regions of America. This distribution underscores its ability to thrive in warm, humid environments commonly found in tropical ecosystems. Despite its original habitat, Mimosa pudica has also been propagated in various parts of the world as an ornamental plant, admired for its curious movement and the beauty of its pink, fluffy flowers.

Inhabiting roadsides, lawns, and fields, the plant’s adaptive nature allows it to establish itself in a diverse array of soils, although it favors well-drained conditions. Botanical studies often highlight its significance as a model organism for examining plant physiology, particularly in terms of plant movement and responses.

Moreover, beyond its biological interest, Mimosa pudica has been explored for various traditional medicinal uses, especially in the cultures where it grows natively. It has been used in remedies for skin ailments and as an anti-inflammatory agent, showcasing the plant’s importance beyond its ornamental appeal.

In summary, Mimosa pudica, known as the Sensitive-plant, is a species celebrated not only for its captivating responsive movements but also for its wide tropical habitat and potential medicinal applications. Its inclusion in Carl Linnaeus’s “Species Plantarum” further cements its standing within the botanical community and highlights the enduring curiosity and value this plant offers.

Common Names

Eng: common sensitive-plant, sensitive, sensitive grass, sensitive plant, sensitive-plant, sensitive-weed, shame bush, shame face, shame lady, shame weed, shameplant, touch-me-not
Msa: semalu
Deu: sinnpflanze
Spa: dormidera, sensitiva
Swe: sensitiva
Fra: sensitive
En: Sensitive-plant, Sensitive-weed, Touch-me-not, Shameplant, Common sensitive-plant, Sensitive plant, Sensitive, Sensitive Grass, Shame Bush, Shame Face, Shame Lady, Shame Weed, Shame Lady Shame, Wild Tantan, Herbe Sensible, Humble Plant, Mori Vivi, Pope Haavare, Shame Plant, Touch Me Not, Trompe la Mort
Ar: ميموسا بوديكا
Bn: লজ্জাবতী
Bg: Срамежлива мимоза
My: ထိကရုံးပင်
Ca: Sensitiva
Zh: Han xiu cao, 含羞草
Hr: Sramežljiva mimoza
Cs: Citlivka stydlivá
Da: Ægte Mimose
Nl: Kruidje-roer-me-niet, Kruidje-roer-mij-niet, Kruidje roer me niet
Eo: Sensitivo
Et: Häbelik mimoos
Fi: Tuntokasvi
Fr: Sensitive, Herbe mamzelle, Mimosa pudique, Herbe Sensible, Radié lan mort, Trompe la mort
De: Sinnpflanze, Mimose
El: Μιμόζα
Gu: લજામણી
He: מימוזה ביישנית
Hi: छुइमुइ पौधा
Hu: Szemérmes mimóza
Io: Sensitivo
Id: Putri malu
Ga: Lus cigilteach
Jv: Putri malu
Kn: ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆ ಮುನಿ
Kk: Ұялшақ мимоза
Km: ព្រះខ្លប ឬសំពះ
Ko: Mimosa, 미모사
Lv: Kautrā mimoza
Lt: Jautrioji mimoza
Mk: Срамежлива мимоза
Ms: Pokok Semalu, Semalu
Ml: തൊട്ടാവാടി
Mr: लाजाळू
Ne: लज्जावती
Or: ଲାଜକୁଳୀ ଲତା
Pa: ਛੂਈ ਮੂਈ
Fa: میموسا پودیکا
Pl: Mimoza wstydliwa
Pt: Dormideira
Pt-br: Dormideira
Ru: Mimoza stydlivaja, Мимоза стыдливая
Sa: लज्जालुसस्यम्
Si: නිදිකුම්බා
Sk: Citlivka obyčajná
Es: Dormidera, Sensitiva, Sramežljiva mimoza, Shameplant, Dormilona
Su: Jukut riut
Sv: Sensitiva
Tl: Makahiya
Zh-tw: 含羞草
Ta: தொட்டாற் சுருங்கி
Te: అత్తిపత్తి
Th: ไมยราบ
To: Mateloi
Zh-hant: 含羞草
Tr: Küstüm otu
Uk: Мімоза сором’язлива
Ur: چھوئی موئی
Vi: Trinh nữ

Synonyms

• Eburnax pudica ((L.) Raf.)

Distribution

• Bahamas (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Cayman Is. (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Southwest Caribbean (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bismarck Archipelago (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Congo (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Liberia (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Maluku (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Sulawesi (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Vanuatu (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Jul 12, 2019 by Chacon Jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 11, 2020 by Jaramillo Angela (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 19, 2020 by pino claudia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2021 by Jitin Budhlakoti (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 6, 2019 by Barquero Camila (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 31, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 11, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 2, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 26, 2020 by pratiwir pratiwir (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 2, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Apr 15, 2020 by Caleb Gittins (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 22, 2019 by doddy santoso (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 18, 2020 by Chee Keong Chan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 7, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 25, 2017 by Uday Wali (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 5, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 22, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 7, 2021 by Gutierrez Melani (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2022 by Nilanjan Nath (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 2, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 17, 2021 by Lennaert Steen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 7, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2019 by Grecia Castellanos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2019 by Mora-Fallas Adán (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2969284)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:313242-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Mimosa pudica L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth