''Mimosa'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the

legume Legumes are plants in the pea family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consum ...

family

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

. Species are native to the

Americas The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...

, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to

eastern Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...

(Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar) as well as the Indian subcontinent and Indochina. The generic name is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

word (''mimos''), 'actor' or 'mime', and the feminine suffix -''osa'', 'resembling', suggesting its 'sensitive leaves' which seem to 'mimic conscious life'. Two species in the genus are especially notable. One is ''

Mimosa pudica ''Mimosa pudica'' (also called sensitive plant, sleepy grass, sleepy plant, action plant, humble plant, touch-me-not, touch-and-die, or shameplant) is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant of the pea/legume family Fabaceae. It is often ...

'', commonly known as touch-me-not, which folds its leaves when touched or exposed to heat. It is native to southern Central and

South South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...

America but is widely cultivated elsewhere for its curiosity value, both as a

houseplant A houseplant, also known as a pot plant, potted plant, or indoor plant, is an ornamental plant cultivated indoors. for aesthetic or practical purposes. These plants are commonly found in House, homes, Office, offices, and various indoor spaces, w ...

in temperate areas, and outdoors in the tropics. Outdoor cultivation has led to

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, growing where it conflicts with human preferences, needs, or goals.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. Pla ...

invasion An invasion is a Offensive (military), military offensive of combatants of one geopolitics, geopolitical Legal entity, entity, usually in large numbers, entering territory (country subdivision), territory controlled by another similar entity, ...

in some areas, notably

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

. The other is ''

Mimosa tenuiflora ''Mimosa tenuiflora'', syn. ''Mimosa hostilis'', also known as jurema preta, calumbi (Brazil), tepezcohuite (México), carbonal, cabrera, jurema, black jurema, and binho de jurema, is a perennial tree or shrub native to the northeastern region of ...

'', which is best known for its use in shamanic

ayahuasca AyahuascaPronounced as in the UK and in the US. Also occasionally known in English as ''ayaguasca'' (Spanish-derived), ''aioasca'' (Brazilian Portuguese-derived), or as ''yagé'', pronounced or . Etymologically, all forms but ''yagé'' descen ...

brews due to the psychedelic drug

dimethyltryptamine Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), also known as ''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine (''N'',''N''-DMT), is a Psychedelic drug, serotonergic hallucinogen and Investigational New Drug, investigational drug of the substituted tryptamine, tryptamine family tha ...

found in its root bark.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the genus ''Mimosa'' has gone through several periods of

splitting and lumping Lumpers and splitters are opposing factions in any academic discipline that has to place individual examples into rigorously defined categories. The lumper–splitter problem occurs when there is the desire to create classifications and assign e ...

, ultimately accumulating over 3,000 names, many of which have either been synonymized under other species or transferred to other genera. In part due to these changing circumscriptions, the name "Mimosa" has also been applied to several other related species with similar pinnate or bipinnate leaves, but are now classified in other genera. The most common examples of this are ''

Albizia julibrissin ''Albizia julibrissin'', the Persian silk tree, pink silk tree, or mimosa tree, is a species of tree in the Fabaceae family, native to Western Asia, southwestern and East Asia, eastern Asia. Taxonomy It was introduced to Europe in the mid-18th ...

'' (Persian silk tree) and ''

Acacia dealbata ''Acacia dealbata'', the silver wattle, blue wattle or mimosa, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to southeastern Australia and widely introduced in other warm climates. Description It is a fast-growing ...

'' (wattle).

Description

Members of this genus are among the few plants capable of rapid movement; examples outside of ''Mimosa'' include the

telegraph plant ''Codariocalyx motorius'' (though often placed in ''Desmodium''), known as the telegraph plant, dancing plant, or semaphore plant, is a tropical Asian shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae), one of a few plants capable of rapid movement; others inc ...

, ''

Aldrovanda ''Aldrovanda'' is a genus of carnivorous plants encompassing one extant species ('' Aldrovanda vesiculosa'', the waterwheel plant) and numerous extinct taxa. The genus is named in honor of the Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi, the founder ...

'', some species of ''

Drosera ''Drosera'', which is commonly known as the sundews, is one of the largest genus, genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. 2 volumes. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucil ...

'' and the

Venus flytrap The Venus flytrap (''Dionaea muscipula'') is a carnivorous plant native to the temperate and subtropical wetlands of North Carolina and South Carolina, on the East Coast of the United States. Although various modern hybrids have been created ...

. The leaves of the ''Mimosa pudica'' close quickly when touched. Some mimosas raise their leaves in the day and lower them at night, and experiments done by

Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan (26 November 1678 – 20 February 1771) was a French natural philosopher (physicist), born in the town of Béziers on 26 November 1678. De Mairan lost his father, François d'Ortous, at age four and his mother tw ...

on mimosas in 1729 provided the first evidence of biological clocks.Neuroscience; Bear, Connors, Paradiso ''Mimosa'' can be distinguished from the large related genera, ''

Acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as wattles or acacias, is a genus of about of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America, and Austral ...

'' and ''

Albizia ''Albizia'' is a genus of more than 160 species of mostly fast-growing subtropical and tropical trees and shrubs in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae. The genus is pantropical, occurring in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, America and A ...

'', since its flowers have ten or fewer

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s. Botanically, what appears to be a single globular flower is actually a cluster of many individual ones. Mimosas contain some level of

heptanoic acid Enanthic acid, also called heptanoic acid, is an organic compound composed of a seven-carbon chain terminating in a carboxylic acid functional group. It is a colorless oily liquid with an unpleasant, rancid odor. It contributes to the odor of som ...

Species

There are about 590 species including: *''

Mimosa aculeaticarpa ''Mimosa aculeaticarpa'' is a species of woody shrub in the family Fabaceae. It is commonly known as the catclaw mimosa or the wait-a-minute bush, and is endemic to upland regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States, particularly Ariz ...

'' Ortega *'' Mimosa andina'' Benth. *'' Mimosa arenosa'' (Willd.) Poir. *''

Mimosa asperata ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' L. *'' Mimosa borealis'' Gray *''

Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia ''Mimosa caesalpiniifolia'', known as ''sabiá'' in Brazil, is a species of tree with white flowers, a legume in the family Fabaceae. This species is found only in Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest ...

'' Benth. *'' Mimosa casta'' L. *''

Mimosa cupica ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' Gray *'' Mimosa ceratonia'' L. *''

Mimosa diplotricha ''Mimosa diplotricha'' is a species of leguminous woody shrub native to the Neotropics. It is an invasive species and now has a pantropical distribution.Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) (2007) PIER species lists, retrieved 4/30/200''Mi ...

'' C.Wright ''ex'' Sauvalle *''

Mimosa disperma ''Mimosa disperma'' is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of ...

'' Barneby *''

Mimosa distachya ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' Cav. *'' Mimosa dysocarpa'' Benth. *''

Mimosa emoryana ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' Benth. *''

Mimosa grahamii ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' Gray *'' Mimosa hamata'' Willd. *'' Mimosa hystricina'' (Small ex Britt. et Rose) B.L.Turner *''

Mimosa invisa ''Mimosa invisa'' is a species of leguminous woody shrub or vine native to South America. ''Mimosa invisa'' includes two subspecies, each with two varieties: The species is considered to be noxious and invasive in much of the United States. * ...

'' Martius ''ex'' Colla *''

Mimosa latidens ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' (Small) B.L. Turner *'' Mimosa laxiflora'' Benth. *''

Mimosa loxensis ''Mimosa loxensis'' is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by ve ...

'' Barneby *''

Mimosa malacophylla ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the Mimosoideae, mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Moza ...

'' Gray *'' Mimosa microphylla'' Dry. *''

Mimosa nothacacia ''Mimosa nothacacia'' is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,Mimosa nuttallii ''Mimosa nuttallii'', the Nuttall's sensitive-briar, catclaw brier, or sensitive brier, is an herbaceous perennial legume in the subfamily Mimosoideae native to the central United States. It has a trailing semi-woody vine covered with small recu ...

'' (DC.) B.L. Turner *''

Mimosa ophthalmocentra ''Mimosa ophthalmocentra'', or ''jurema-embira'' ("red jurema"), is a tree in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Brazil. It is shrub or small tree about 3 to 5 m tall. Its blossoms come in long, narrow cylindrical spikes having yellowis ...

'' Mart. ex Benth. 1865 *''

Mimosa pellita ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the Mimosoideae, mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Moza ...

'' Kunth ex Willd. *''

Mimosa pigra ''Mimosa pigra'', commonly known as the giant sensitive tree (''pigra'' = lazy, slow), is a species of plant of the genus ''Mimosa'', in the family Fabaceae. The genus ''Mimosa'' (Mimosaceae) contains 400–450 species, most of which are native ...

'' L. *''

Mimosa polycarpa ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' Kunth *''

'' L. *''

Mimosa quadrivalvis ''Mimosa quadrivalvis'', known as fourvalve mimosa, sensitive briar and cat's claw, is a trailing vine native to North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is known as sensitive briar because the leaves fold when they are touched or di ...

'' L. **''Mimosa quadrivalvis'' var. ''hystricina'' (Small) Barneby **''Mimosa quadrivalvis'' var. ''quadrivalvis'' L. *'' Mimosa roemeriana'' Scheele *''

Mimosa rubicaulis ''Mimosa rubicaulis'' is a shrub belonging to the family Fabaceae and subfamily Mimosoideae. It is bipinnately compound, each leaf having 8–12 pairs of pinnae, each with 16–20 pairs of pinnules, unlike '' Mimosa pudica'' which has at most tw ...

'' Lam. *'' Mimosa rupertiana'' B.L. Turner *'' Mimosa scabrella'' Benth. *''

Mimosa schomburgkii ''Mimosa'' is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, and ...

'' Benth. *'' Mimosa somnians'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. *''

Mimosa strigillosa ''Mimosa strigillosa'', also known as sunshine mimosa and powderpuff, is a perennial ground cover in the family Fabaceae that is native to nearly all US states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and grows north into Georgia and Arkansas as well. The n ...

'' Torr. et Gray *''

'' (Willd.) Poir. (= ''Mimosa hostilis'') *''

Mimosa texana ''Mimosa texana'' is a shrub in the family Fabaceae. It is commonly known as Texas Mimosa, Texas Catclaw, or Wherry Mimosa and is endemic to upland regions of Mexico and Texas. This species was once classified as ''Mimosa biuncifera'' but it was ...

'' (Gray) Small *''

Mimosa townsendii ''Mimosa townsendii'' is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by ...

'' Barneby *'' Mimosa turneri'' Barneby *''

Mimosa verrucosa ''Mimosa verrucosa'', commonly known as jurema-branca ("white jurema") or jurema-de- oeiras, is a species of legume of the genus ''Mimosa'', in the common bean family, Fabaceae. It is a shrub or small tree native to Brazil (Bahia, Ceará, Para� ...

Benth. George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

References

External links

Mimosa-pudica.de

{{Authority control Articles containing video clips Fabaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus