Plantae-The+Modest+Princess

= ** The Modest Princess Plant ** = =// (Mimosa pudica) //= = =

Scientific Classification

 * **Scientific Name** || //Mimosa Pudica// ||
 * **Kingdom** || Plantae ||
 * **Phylum** || Magnoliophyta ||
 * **Class** || Magnoliopsida ||
 * **Order** || Fabales ||
 * **Family** || Fabaceae ||

The modest princess, shame plant, sensitive plant, humble plant, sensitive grass, sleeping grass, touch-me-not, the tickle plant
 * Common names:**

Introduction
The shame plant is a small ascendin g, short lived shrub. Some botanists consider it a woody herb. When touched, the stems droop and the leaves fold inward. At night the leaves of this fascinating plant fold and bend, reacting to the absence of light (nyctonastic movements).

What does it look like?
//Mimosa pudica// has a slender, prickly stem and pale green compound leaves similar to those of ferns. Since this plant can be either upright or low trailing, its height ranges from 20-100 cm. Also, it may reach more than 2 m in horizontal extension. The reddish-brown, woody stems are covered with tiny thorns. The root system consists of extensive fibrous roots with nodules. The flexible twigs can support leaves with 15-25 pairs of leaflets each measuring about 3-12 mm in length. The Shame Plant also bores legumes (pods) which are born in groups and contain 3-4 brown seeds. Lastly, this plant has pink, fluffy flowers that are spherical in shape.



Not only does this plant fold in its leaflets and droop downwards when touched, it also reacts this way when exposed to stimuli such as fire and wind. These movements are referred to as seismonastic movements (reaction to physical shock). Some botanists believe that this response is a defence from predators. Sometimes, animals or insects are afraid of fast moving plants and would rather stay away from them.
 * Fascinating Fact: **

Below is a video that shows the Shame Plant's reaction: media type="youtube" key="BLTcVNyOhUc?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

What causes this plant movement?
This movement occurs when the cells lose turgor pressure. When the plant is disturbed(touching, poking, hitting), the stems release chemicals which cause water to move out from the cell vacuoles. This loss in cell pressure causes the drooping and folding of leaflets.

Where does it live?
//Mimosa pudica// is native to Central and South America, particularly Brazil. But it has been introduced to many other countries including Australia, United States, China, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam.

The Shame Plant can be found in orchards, pastures, roadsides, croplands and even moist waste grounds. It is shade intolerant and does not grow under forest canopies. Its roots produce carbon disulphide, which prevents colonization of rhizosphere by some types of fungi. It can grow in all kinds of soil because it has the ability to take nitrogen from the air and convert it to ammonia which is useful for the plant (nitrogen fixation by its nodules). Also, shame plants require a temperature of 60-85 degrees F and they are very sensitive to drought and frost.

Reproduction
The shame plant flowers all year and each plant produces around 675 seeds per year. Flowers are pink (see picture below) and have a diameter of about 1 cm. Just like any other plant, the flowers are pollinated by wind and insects such as bees. Due to the existence of bristles on their pods, seeds are transported when they cling to the fur of animals or human clothing.



Resources
Sensitive Plant. (2010). Encyclopedia Americana. Retrieved November 15, 2010, from Grolier Online []

Rosenblum, E. E. (2010). Mimosa. Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 15, 2010, from Grolier Online []

U.S. Forest Service. (n.d.). Mimosa pudica L.. Retrieved November 14, 2010, from <[]>

Walker, Marilyn. Wild plants of Eastern Canada: identifying, harvesting and using : includes recipes & medicinal uses. Halifax, N.S.: Nimbus Pub., 2008. Print.

Image Resources
//Mimosa Pudica.// (2009). [Photograph]. Retrieved from []

//Shy Plant.// (2009). [Photograph]. Retrieved from []

//Mimosa Pudica Flower.// (2010). [Photograph]. Retrieved from []