The Sensitive Plant

Mimosa pudica (含羞草)or Sensitive Plant, the leaves of Mimosa has the capability to display thigmonasty (touch-induced movement). In Mimosa, the leaves respond to being touched, shaken, heated or rapidly cooled. The speed of the response depends on the magnitude of the stimulus. Hitting the leaf hard with the flick of a finger will cause the leaf to close in the blink of an eye whereas a gentle touch or modest heat source applied to leaflets at the tip of a leaf will result in a slower response and the propagation of the stimulus along the leaf can be observed.

There are lots of Mimosa lying everywhere along the roadside near my house. It seems interesting and amazing to see the leaves folded up when touched and after a while, it open again. Mimosa has tiny little thorns on its stems, have to be very careful if wearing slippers, it hurts when kena ‘poke’.