Download Mimosa pudica

Weeds of Australia - Biosecurity Queensland Edition Fact Sheet
Mimosa pudica
Scientific Name
Mimosa pudica L.
Family
Fabaceae: sub-family Mimosoideae (New South Wales)
Leguminosae (South Australia)
Mimosaceae (Queensland, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the
Northern Territory)
habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Common Names
action plant, common sensitive plant, humble plant, live and die, live-and-die, mimosa,
sensitive plant, sensitive weed, shame lady, shame plant, shame weed, shamebush,
shameplant, touch me not, touch-me-not
Origin
This species originated in tropical Central and South America but is now found
throughout the tropical regions of the world (i.e. pan-tropical).
spreading habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Naturalised Distribution
Widely naturalised in northern and eastern Australia (i.e. in the northern parts of the
Northern Territory, in the coastal districts of Queensland and in some inland parts
of New South Wales). Also naturalised on Christmas Island.
Habitat
A weed of wetter coastal areas, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is
mostly found in plantation crops, disturbed sites, pastures, waste areas, parks, lawns,
gardens and along roadsides.
creeping habit growing in a lawn (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Habit
A prickly, long-lived (i.e. perennial), herbaceous plant or small shrub with a creeping (i.e.
prostrate or decumbent) or sprawling habit. It usually only grows 15-50 cm tall, but can
reach up to 1 m or more in height when supported by other vegetation.
Distinguishing Features
a low-growing, long-lived, plant with prickly stems and twicecompound leaves that are borne on long stalks.
its leaves consist of one or two pairs of branchlets, each branchlet having 1025 pairs of small leaflets (6-15 mm long and 1-3 mm wide).
the very hairy stems and leaves of Mimosa pudica var.
hispida (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
the leaves are very sensitive and fold up when touched (hence the name
'sensitive plant').
its pink or purplish flowers are arranged in small, fluffy, globular or eggshaped clusters (9-15 mm across).
its relatively small seed pods (10-25 mm long and 3-6 mm wide) have stiff,
almost prickly, bristles along their margins and break apart into one-seeded
segments when mature.
Stems and Leaves
The reddish-brown to purplish coloured stems tend to become woody with age. These
stems are rounded, much-branched, and armed with small curved prickles (2.5-5 mm
long).
The alternately arranged leaves are twice-compound (i.e. bipinnate) and are borne
on stalks (i.e. petioles) 15-60 mm long. They consist of one or two pairs of branchlets
(i.e. pinnae) that often have a covering of stiff, prickly, bristles. Each of these branchlets
(2.5-8 cm long) bears 10-25 pairs of small dark green leaflets. The leaflets are
the sparsely hairy stems and leaves of Mimosa pudica var.
unijuja (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
elongated or oblong in shape (6-15 mm long and 1-3 mm wide) with entire margins.
Both surfaces of the leaflets are sparsely hairy (i.e. puberulent) and their margins are
lined with tiny bristly hairs. The leaves are very sensitive and fold up when touched (they
also fold up at night too).
Flowers and Fruit
The pink or purplish coloured flowers are arranged in small, fluffy, globular or eggshaped (i.e. ovoid) clusters (9-15 mm across). These clusters are borne on bristly stalks
(i.e. peduncles) 1-4 cm long in the forks (i.e. axils) of the upper leaves. Individual flowers
have four tiny pink petals (about 2 mm long) and four minute sepals. However, the
four pink stamens (8-20 mm long) are the most prominent part of the flowers and give
them a fluffy appearance. Flowering occurs mostly from summer through to early
winter.
close-up of prickly stem with leaf that has closed after
being touched (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
The oblong and flattened seed pods (10-25 mm long and 3-6 mm wide) are borne in
clusters at the ends of the flowering stalks. These pods each contain 1-6 seeds and their
edges are covered in stiff, almost prickly, bristles. They are initially green in colour, but
turn brown when mature and eventually break apart into one-seeded segments. The
seeds (2.5-3 mm long) are light brown in colour, somewhat flattened, and have a finely
textured surface.
Reproduction and Dispersal
This plant reproduces by seeds.
close-up of the elongated leaflets (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
These seeds are dispersed long distances after becoming attached to animals and
clothing. They are also commonly spread by water and occasionally as a contaminant of
soil and agricultural produce.
Environmental Impact
Common sensitive plant ( Mimosa pudica) is a significant environmental weed in
Queensland and the Northern Territory, and was recently listed as a priority
environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region in Australia.
Legislation
This species is declared under legislation in the following states and territories:
egg-shaped flower clusters borne in the leaf forks (Photo:
Sheldon Navie)
Northern Territory: B - growth and spread of this species to be controlled
(throughout all of the Territory), and C - not to be introduced into the
Territory.
Western Australia: P1 - the movement of this species or its seeds is
prohibited (same as below), and P2 - to be eradicated (in the Ashburton,
Broome, Carnarvon, Coolgardie, Cue, Derby - West Kimberley, Dundas, East
Pilbara, Exmouth, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Halls Creek, Laverton,
Leonora, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet, Murchison, Ngaanyatjarraku, Menzies,
Port Hedland, Roebourne, Sandstone, Shark Bay, Upper Gascoyne, Wiluna,
Wyndham-East Kimberley and Yalgoo local authority areas).
Management
close-up of flower cluster and flower buds showing the
prominent pink stamens (Photo: Forest and Kim Starr,
USGS)
For information on the management of this species see the following resources:
the Biosecurity Queensland Fact Sheet on this species, which is available
online at http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au.
the Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment and
The Arts Agnote on this species, which is available online at
http://www.nt.gov.au/weeds.
Similar Species
There are three varieties of common sensitive plant ( Mimosa pudica) in Australia, which
tend to vary in the hairiness of their stems, leaves and flower parts. The densely hairy
Mimosa pudica var. hispida and the sparsely hairy Mimosa pudica var. unijuja are both
very common, while Mimosa pudica var. tetrandra is relatively rare.
Common sensitive plant ( Mimosa pudica) is very similar to giant sensitive tree ( Mimosa
pigra) and giant sensitive plant (Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha), which both also
produce pink globular flower clusters and have prickles. It is also relatively similar to
the sometimes weedy native sensitive plant ( Neptunia gracilis). These species can be
distinguished by the following differences:
common sensitive plant ( Mimosa pudica ) is a relatively small plant, with a
close-up of immature fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
somewhat spreading (i.e. prostrate) habit, that has few-branched leaves (i.e.
with one or two pairs of branchlets). It produces relatively small pods (1- 2.5
cm long) that contain only 1-6 one-seeded segments.
dense clusters of mature fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
giant sensitive tree ( Mimosa pigra) is a large shrub with an upright (i.e. erect)
growth habit that has large much-branched leaves (i.e. with 6-16 pairs of
branchlets). It produces relatively large pods (3-8 cm long) that contain 14-26
one-seeded segments.
giant sensitive plant ( Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha) is an upright (i.e.
erect) shrub or climbing plant that has much-branched leaves (i.e. with 4-9
pairs of branchlets). It produces relatively small pods (1-3.5 cm long) that
contain only 3-5 one-seeded segments.
fruit after most of the seeds have been shed (Photo:
Sheldon Navie)
native sensitive plant ( Neptunia gracilis) is a relatively small plant, with a
creeping (i.e. prostrate) growth habit, that has few-branched leaves (i.e. with
one or two pairs of branchlets). However, it does not have prickles along its
stems, has yellow flowers, and its pods do not separate into one-seeded
segments when mature.
Fact sheets are available from Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
(DEEDI) service centres and our Customer Service Centre (telephone 13 25 23). Check our website
at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the latest version of this fact sheet. The control
methods referred to in this fact sheet should be used in accordance with the restrictions (federal
and state legislation, and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method.
These restrictions may prevent the use of one or more of the methods referred to, depending on
individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, DEEDI
does not invite reliance upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions
based on it.
close-up of one-seeded segments that have separated
from the fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. Identic Pty Ltd. Special edition of Environmental Weeds of
Australia for Biosecurity Queensland.
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close-up of seeds (Photo: Steve Hurst at USDA PLANTS
Database)
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seedling (Photo: Sheldon Navie)