Disturbed Mimosa pudica
Mimosa flower
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Common name: Sensitive plant
Family: Leguminosae
Country of Origin: tropical America
Accession information: grown from seed purchased from Park Seed Company
Accession number: 2005.S.1, 2005.S.2; 2005.S.3; 2005.S.4; 2005.S.5; 2005.S.6
Culture: keep constantly moist
Leaflets fold together and petioles droop if plant is touched or shaken, or if subjected to sudden temperarure change,
high hydrostatic pressure, or chemical agents. This is possibly a mechanism to reduce transpiration or to deter grazers.
The stimulus is apparently passed through the phloem of pulvinus and possibly implemented by contractile proteins or
migration of ions through membranes leading to drop in turgor of pulvinus cells.
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