Is Mimosa Pudica Toxic? Medicinal Value, Indoor Placement, and the Reason It Shy

In the plant kingdom there is a green plant whose leaves close at a touch——the mimosa (Mimosa pudica). I believe many friends who like growing green plants at home have grown one. So do you know whether the disease-curing mimosa is toxic? Can it be placed indoors? Why does it feel shy? Now let us learn about it together.

1. What does the mimosa look like?

1. Mimosa plants grown at home or sold in flower shops are generally in small pots and are not very tall, but little do people know that it can grow up to 1 m tall, and the mimosa also has scattered and downward-curving hooked prickles.

2. The leaves of the mimosa are like small needles but bear bristles, and the flowers are very small, with light red linear petals; its flowering period is from March to October each year; its pods are oblong and flat, slightly curved and wavy in shape, and its fruiting period is from May to November each year.

2. Is the mimosa toxic?

The mimosa is toxic.

1. The mimosa contains an alkaloid and is slightly toxic; if touched or contacted for a long time, it can cause hair and eyebrows to turn yellow and fall out.

2. Mimosa has effects such as calming the nerves and clearing heat and detoxifying, but it cannot be used alone; it needs to be used together with other medicines, and if mimosa is needed as an auxiliary treatment, it must be under the professional guidance of a doctor. Never use it on your own at will, otherwise it can cause cataracts and other adverse reactions.

3. Can the mimosa be placed indoors?

It is best not to place the mimosa indoors.

1. The mimosa itself is a slightly toxic plant, and long-term contact is not good for the body. Especially for families with young children, do not place the mimosa within reach, so as to avoid harming the children's health.

2. Like other green plants, the mimosa can produce oxygen through photosynthesis during the day, but at night it respires and releases carbon dioxide and other harmful substances, so it is better to keep the mimosa on a balcony or in another well-ventilated place.

4. Why does the mimosa feel shy?

The mimosa gets its name because it folds its leaves when touched, behaving as if it were shy. It is also called the sensitive plant, the shy plant, the call-and-shout plant, the fear-of-shame plant, and so on. Although people know that the mimosa will “feel shy”, many friends are still not clear about exactly why it feels shy. The reasons are explained below.

1. Environmental reason from its place of origin: the mimosa is originally a plant that grows in Brazil in South America. When the tropical rainy season arrives, the wind and rain are very heavy. In order to avoid damage to the leaves from large raindrops, it folds its leaves up. Do you not think it is quite clever!

2. Botanical reason: in order to investigate why the mimosa “feels shy”, some people have done related research. Through professional research it was found that around the vascular bundles of the pulvinus of the mimosa there are many parenchyma tissues. When a touch or vibration is transmitted, the cell sap in the parenchyma cells of the upper half of the pulvinus is expelled into the intercellular spaces, reducing the turgor pressure of the cells in the upper half of the pulvinus, while the intercellular spaces of the parenchyma cells in the lower half still maintain their original turgor pressure. In this way, the small leaflets of the mimosa stand upright and the two small leaflets close together.

5. How are potted mimosas grown?

1. For growing a potted mimosa, either directly buy an already planted pot on the market (if so, you only need to care for it), or grow it yourself starting from sowing. If you choose sowing, do it in March or April each year, and generally it will sprout about one week after sowing.

2. The mimosa has very strong vitality, so it is not very demanding about the soil, and ceramic, plastic, or other flower pots are all fine.

3. In summer, water the mimosa once a day, and each time water it thoroughly to keep the soil moist; in spring, autumn, and winter, water about once every three days. If the soil is especially dry, the watering interval can be shortened.

4. Fertilizing the mimosa once a month is enough. Fruit peels or fermented rice-washing water diluted with water can be used for watering, or you can buy fertilizer from the market yourself.

5. The mimosa needs appropriate light, but be careful not to expose it to strong sun. In summer, place it in a cool and well-ventilated place to prevent the leaves from being sunburned; in addition, in winter, pay attention to cold protection and keeping it warm.