Water sensitive (Neptunia plena, J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 355 (1841))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: (L.) Benth.

Bibliography: J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 355 (1841)

Year: 1841

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Neptunia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. America

Description

Water sensitive, scientifically known as Neptunia plena, belongs to the Fabaceae family. This fascinating plant was described and classified in 1841, as noted in the Journal of Botany by Hooker (4: 355). The author of this botanical description is (L.) Benth.

Water sensitive plants are native to tropical and subtropical regions of America. This unique plant is notable for its responsive behavior to touch, similar to the more commonly known Mimosa pudica. When its leaves are touched or disturbed, they fold up, displaying a remarkable example of rapid plant movement.

Neptunia plena thrives in a variety of habitats across its native range, often found along riverbanks, marshes, and other moist environments. This affinity for wet areas makes it an excellent plant for naturalizing in similar conditions in gardens and water features outside its native regions.

The plant has pinnately compound leaves, producing small yellow flowers that add a delicate beauty to its surroundings. Due to its intriguing movement and attractive appearance, it has garnered interest both as a botanical curiosity and as an ornamental plant.

In summary, the Water sensitive plant, with its unique touch response and attractive foliage, is a noteworthy member of the leguminous family Fabaceae, originating from the warm and wet climates of tropical and subtropical America.

Common Names

Eng: water dead and awake, water sensitive, dead and awake, waterthistle, water dead-and-awake
En: Water sensitive, Water dead and awake, Dead and Awake, Waterthistle, Water Dead-and-Awake

Synonyms

• Neptunia polyphylla ((DC.) Benth.)
• Mimosa plena (L.)
• Neptunia surinamensis (Steud.)
• Acuan arboreum (Medik.)
• Hemidesmas diffusus (Raf.)
• Desmanthus comosus (A.Rich.)
• Hemidesmas plenus ((L.) Raf.)
• Mimosa adenanthera (Roxb.)
• Neptunia plena f. lumbricoides (Fassett)
• Desmanthus punctatus ((L.) Willd.)
• Desmanthus plenus ((L.) Willd.)
• Mimosa lycopodioides (Desf. ex F.Dietr.)
• Desmanthus adenanthera ((Roxb.) Wall.)
• Desmanthus polyphyllus (DC.)
• Mimosa punctata (L.)
• Acacia lycopodioides ((Desf. ex F.Dietr.) Desv.)

Distribution

• Aruba (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Galápagos (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Texas (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Taiwan (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.

Flower

Taken Apr 14, 2022 by Lorenzi Harri (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Acevedo, P. (cc-by-nc-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 28, 2022 by Pablo Lizondo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Daniel H. Janzen (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2022 by Blue Bottle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 13, 2022 by Mishelle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 14, 2022 by Lorenzi Harri (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 29, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 9, 2016 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Dec 30, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 30, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 21, 2003 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 30, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 18, 2002 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 30, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 21, 2002 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 13, 2022 by Delblond Michel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Daniel H. Janzen (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Daniel H. Janzen (cc-by-nc-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 11, 2017 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5353568)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1056199-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Neptunia plena (L.) Benth.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth