What are the characteristics of the sensitive plant? A complete guide to the sensitive plant
The sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) is native to the tropical regions of the Americas. It is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Mimosa of the legume family (Fabaceae). Because of its unique physiological habits, it has many aliases and nicknames, such as laughing grass, sensing grass, hehu grass, shame-knowing grass, shy grass, bashful grass and husband-and-wife grass. Let's take a look below at what the characteristics of the sensitive plant are!
The most notable characteristic of the sensitive plant is that when it is stimulated (such as by touch), the leaf surface contracts and folds together. If the stimulus is strong, this stimulus is quickly passed on in turn to the neighbouring leaflets, and even to the leaflets of the entire compound leaf, causing the petiole to droop. If the stimulus is strong enough, it can even cause the leaflets of the whole plant to close up and the compound leaves to droop. But after a period of time, it can return to its original state. The sensitive plant also reacts very quickly to vibration; it begins to respond 0.1 seconds after being stimulated, and completes the response within a few seconds.
The sensitive plant also folds its leaflets and droops its petioles at night. During the day, when some leaflets are stimulated by vibration, they also fold up in pairs. It is more sensitive when the light is weak. Normally, the water in the pulvinus supports the leaf blades, but when it is stimulated by an external force, the water in the pulvinus immediately flows elsewhere, causing the leaves of the sensitive plant to close. In addition, it automatically contracts at night (that is, sleep movement). These unique features are precisely the source of the name "sensitive plant" and its nicknames.
The sensitive plant has strong vitality and grows in a rather messy way, so many places classify it as a kind of grass, but in fact it also blooms. The flowering period is from July to October each year, but the flowering period is very short; the flowers fade less than two days after blooming. The flowers are pink, and the capitulum is spherical, shaped like a pom-pom. After flowering, it also produces pods, and the fruit is flat and round.
The flower language of the sensitive plant is sensitivity, shyness and politeness. Gently touching the leaves of this plant makes them immediately close and droop, and even a gust of wind can cause this to happen, just like a shy young girl, so its flower language is——shyness. People born under the blessing of this flower have a very shy and timid personality, and are very afraid of strangers. They are especially keen in perception and also have strong self-esteem.
Summary: That is all for the introduction to what the characteristics of the sensitive plant are. It is precisely because of these special abilities of the sensitive plant that people cannot help but fall in love with it. If you grow one of these sensitive plants at home, when you are feeling troubled, just touch it and it will close its leaves. Isn't that a very fun thing?