Mimosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mimosa |
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| Mimosa flower heads | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Clade: | Mimosoideae |
| Genus: | Mimosa L. (1753) |
| Type species | |
| Mimosa pudica |
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About 600 species |
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Mimosa is a group of about 600 different kinds of plants. These plants can be small herbs or larger shrubs. They belong to the legume family, which also includes peas and beans.
You can find Mimosa plants naturally in the Americas, from North Dakota all the way down to Argentina. They also grow in parts of eastern Africa, like Tanzania and Madagascar, and in Asia, including India.
The name Mimosa comes from a Greek word meaning "actor" or "mime." This is because their leaves are very "sensitive." They seem to "mimic" or copy living things by moving.
One very famous Mimosa plant is Mimosa pudica. It's often called the touch-me-not plant. Its leaves quickly fold up when you touch them or when they get warm. This plant is originally from Central and South America. People grow it all over the world because its moving leaves are so interesting. Sometimes, when grown outdoors in tropical places, it can spread and become a weed.
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Amazing Plant Movements
Mimosa plants are special because they can move very quickly. Most plants move slowly, like when they grow towards the sun. But Mimosa plants, especially Mimosa pudica, can close their leaves in just a few seconds.
Other plants that can move fast include the telegraph plant and the Venus flytrap. The leaves of Mimosa pudica snap shut when you touch them. They also raise their leaves during the day and lower them at night.
In 1729, a scientist named Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan studied Mimosa plants. His experiments showed that plants have their own internal "biological clocks." These clocks help them know when to move their leaves, even without sunlight.
What Makes Mimosa Special?
It can be tricky to tell Mimosa plants apart from other similar plants like Acacia and Albizia. But there's a simple way to know! Mimosa flowers have ten or fewer stamens. Stamens are the parts of the flower that make pollen.
What looks like one round, fluffy Mimosa flower is actually a bunch of many tiny flowers grouped together. These plants also contain a substance called heptanoic acid.
Many Types of Mimosa
There are about 590 different kinds of Mimosa plants. Each one has its own unique features. Here are a few examples:
- Mimosa pudica – The famous touch-me-not plant.
- Mimosa diplotricha – A type found in places like India.
- Mimosa scabrella – This kind can be seen in places like London.
- Mimosa pigra – A species that grows in Indonesia.
Images for kids
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Mimosa pudica flower
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Mimosa scabrella in London
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Mimosa pigra in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
See also
In Spanish: Mimosa (planta) para niños
