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Common name: Sensitive Plant, Touch-me-not, Chui-mui छुई-मुई (Hindi), {Kangphal, Kangphal ikaithabi} (Manipuri), Lajwanti लाजवंती (Hindi), தொட்டாச்சுருங்கி thottaccurungi (Tamil), Tintarmani (Malayalam), Nilajban (Assamese), Lajjabati (Bengali)
Botanical name: Mimosa pudica Family: Mimosaceae (touch-me-not family)
Native to Brazil, this short lived evergreen sub shrub is usually treated as
an annual. It is grown for its curiosity value- the fern like leaves close up
and droop when touched, usually re-opening within minutes. It has prickly
stems and small, fluffy, ball shaped pink flowers in summer. It grows to a
height of 5 ft and spreads around 3 ft- a perennial plant, it grows to a
height of 0.5m with a spread of 0.3m. In some areas this plant is becoming a
noxious weed. The stem is erect, slender and branching. The leaves are
bipinnate, fern like and pale green- closing when disturbed. The flowers are
pale lilac pink, occurring in globose heads and appearing in summer.
Indigenous to the northern hemisphere, it is adaptable to most soils in an
open, sunny position, and is drought and frost tender. Due to its ability to
fix nitrogen from the air it does well on poor soils. "Sensitive Plant" folds
up its leaves when touched or exposed to a flame. This plant requires a medium
light exposure, an evenly moist soil, and temperatures between 60 and 85
degrees. One should use caution when handling seedlings because the plant
dislikes root disturbance. Mimosa may be difficult to grow and is sensitive to
over watering.
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