Sensitive plant

Description:

leaves look like small Mimosa tree leaves; compound bipinnate leaves; leaves fold up when touched, small lavendar flowers in axil of leaf; prickley stems and seeds

Habitat:

Urban school garden

Notes:

irresistable to children to touch but spikey stems hurt; weed; other names include "Touch-me-not" or "humble plant" or "Tickle-me plant"; reasons why Mimosa pudica may have evolved it's leave- closing mechanism may include to frighten insects by the movement as they do move on rather quickly when the plant collapses, as reaction to the dark or a way to reduce water loss by transpiration as the leaves fold down upon each other or to expose the few thorns found on adult plants warning for herbivores to stay away or as a way to maintain its body temperature in cold ; biomimicry Application Ideas: Deployable surfaces such as solar panels, antennas, solar sails, folding tents, roof structures. Energy efficient and automated industrial manufacturing equipment.