A sensitive plant, (Mimosa pudica), also called the humble plant, plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) that responds to touch and other stimulation by rapidly closing its leaves and drooping.
Native to South and Central America, the plant is a widespread weed in tropical regions and has naturalized elsewhere in warm areas. It is commonly grown as a curiosity in greenhouses.
The plant is a spiny subshrub and grows to a height of about 30 cm (1 foot). It has compound leaves and small globular pink or mauve flower puffs. The plant’s unusually quick response to touch is due to rapid water release from specialized cells located at the bases of leaflet and leaf stalks. The leaves reopen in several minutes, and it is thought that this adaptation is a defense against browsing herbivores who may be startled by the movement. In addition to its response to physical stimuli, the leaves also droop in response to darkness and reopen with daylight, a phenomenon known as a nyctinastic movement.
Name: Sensitive Plant, Touch Me Not Scientific Name: Mimosa pudica Hardiness zone: 8 Plant height: 5 feet Light requirements: full sun to part shade Soil & water preferences grow well in well-drained soil.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Scarification: Soak in hot water for 24hrs, repeat process on seeds that did not imbibe 2. stratification: none required 3. germination: sow seeds 1/8" deep in the soil, tamp the soil & mulch the seedbed.
I bought some red sunflower seeds from this website. I also bought seeds from the big box store. The seeds I bought from this website sprouted first and look very robust. I am ordering more. Look for the next review once they bloom!!!
The seeds arrived quickly but we did not receive part of our order. We are still waiting for the ones we received to grow so too early for full review.
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