August 12th, 2014 at 7:49PM

plant-a-day:

Sensitive Plant

Mimosa pudica

“Pudica” is the Latin word for “shy” or “bashful,” which is an apt description of the sensitive “Touch-Me-Not.” Native to South and Central America, this shade-lover often grows as a weed under trees and shrubs. It is popular among collectors as a specimen plant worldwide, because of its unique sensitivity to touch.

The foliage retracts when touched to prevent consumption by herbivores, and it also exhibits nyctinastic movement, meaning circadian rhythms affect the leaves to close at night, and re-open during the day. 

This trait is present in many other members of the legume family as well.

You can buy seeds for this plant and grow it yourself:

Canada / USA / UK & Europe / Worldwide

——

- biodiverseed

(via gryffon)

  1. pachucocholosychundos reblogged this from van-aldens-blog
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    When I was a kid, I used to live at a house with these growing at the front yard!! I loved touching them one time and...
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    I used to get lectured as a kid for harassing the plants…. cause we always had these and they’re just so much fun…..
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