In article <2jeb05$nj4 at fermat.mayo.edu>, icernohous at mayo.edu (Cernohous)
wrote:
> Just wondering if anybody heard of Sensitive Plant before. If so,
> where can I get some or seed. Sensitive Plant basically just some
> green leaves, I dont know if it have flowers or not. But anyway, they
> are sensitve to human touch. I understand that they will shut the
> leaves when one touches them. Any idea welcome!!
The plant usually called by the common name "sensitive plant" is Mimosa
pudica. It is in the plant family Fabaceae (beans and other legumes). It is
usually grown as an indoor plant in a pot, but will get large and woody
with age. It will not survive freezing temps. It has delicate leaves with
many small leaflets, and when touched the leaflets first fold inward, and
with continued touching, the entire leaf droops. The plant does flower, and
has pretty little pink to lavender flowers that look like a skyrocket
burst. I did not find a source of seed in a quick look in the seed
catalogs I have on hand. Try posting a request for a source of seed on
the rec.gardens newsgroup. A great group of folks, and they will almost
surely come up with a source. Be careful you don't get the TREE whose
common name is "Mimosa" (Albiza julibrissen). This is an introduced
landscape tree, and is offered in many catalogs as nursery stock, not
seeds. It is closely related to M. pudica, but is only slightly sensitive.
Hope this helps. Ray
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| Ray R. Hinchman |
| Energy Systems Division - Bldg. 372 |
| Argonne National Laboratory |
| Argonne, IL 60439-4816 |
| Voice: (708) 252-3391 FAX: (708) 252-6407 |
| Internet: hinchman at anl.gov |
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