Sensitive Plants

Mimosa pudica, or the "Sensitive Plant," can not handle touchy situations. Also known as the "Humble Plant" or "Shame Plant," Mimosa pudica would rather shrink away from confrontation than stand and fight it. OK, OK, enough with the puns...check out these videos!

My friend Carly has introduced Mimosa pudica to my life and I am obsessed. The plant is native to Brazil and is a part of the pea family! When the plant is shaken or the leaves are touched a chemical reaction that drops pressure in certain cells causes the leaflets to fold and cower. The stimulus to fold and droop can be transmitted from one part of the plant to another in a chain reaction. No one really knows why or how the Sensitive Plant does this, but some theories state that folded and drooped leaves are not attractive to herbivores, and are often passed by in favor of more normal appearing leaves to eat.  Which seems totally plausible, because who wants to eat wilted lettuce? I also have my own little hypothesis that maybe it's a defense mechanism against unwanted insects. Something lands on its leaves and then is immediately slid off before it can do any damage to the plant. What do you think?

Thanks Simon for filming!!