Mimosa pudica - a fun plant!!

My first encounter with this plant was at Lok ma chau, New Territories at the military border that divided Hong Kong from China back in 1983. It was growing wild and it fascinated me as I brushed past it. I found it again in a florist's shop in Weymouth a few weeks ago and had to buy it. It's thriving on the windowsill and has developed "thorns" and what looks like flower heads are also forming.
This is what it looks like during the day with its leaves fully extended :

And this is it 5 seconds later. I have brushed over it with my fingers and disturbed it. It instantly closes up and stays like that for 5 minutes or more - until it thinks it's safe to open again!

it does this every night as the light levels dim - you can watch it as sometimes, leaves get stuck together and have to sort themselves out. I love plants that close up like this - it's a FUN PLANT
Jenny
more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_pudica

 

Ours died of death during the hot weather, it'd been struggling with the low light last year

 

That does look fun Jenny - also looks very healthy. Never seen one but will keep a lookout for one.

 

absolutely amazing! no one could ever dispute how alive & living plants are after seeing it in action

i take it this is the same plant? fascinating to watch!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10201529175944638

 

You can grow it from seed fairly easily, probably best to wait till next spring now though.

 

As Pete said it's easy from seed. I should have some somewhere GA - I'll have a look and let you know.

 

Wow, that's great! What fun! I want one...

 

Yup, they are a fun plant.

As Pete says, they are fairly easy from seed. I find they do need to be soaked prior to sowing.

 

The first flower has come out today. Plant is full of buds..

Jenny

 

Thanks Longk. My abutilon is still flowering keep watching it to see if there are seeds forming in the seed head - none showing as yet.

 

There are about seven or eight left in the packet - sow by date is 2008! No reason that they shouldn't germinate though as they seem firm enough so I can pop 'em in the post if you want as I'll not be needing them this year.

 

Am loving the life in this plant. Stoopid question, but is it a 'house' plant? and where can I get some...

I see it also has some anti-venom properties, could be useful against the OH..

 

I always considered it to be a greenhouse annual, I know it's actually perennial, but it's so easy from seed and deteriorates in bad winter light, that its not worth overwintering.

 

If you mean the Mimosa Pudica Gdnam, there's info. on the plant and it's ability to be grown as a houseplant here:
http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/mimosa-pudica.html
If mine produces seed pods, I am happy to share them on GC. They look quite easy to grow once you've got through the outer hard seed casing,
Jenny

 

I saw it growing naturally in Penang in '85 and it was spreading across the rain forest floor.
It is found in GCs occasionally and as stated, easy to grow from fresh seed (24 hour soak may help).
One thing to remember is not to overdo the collapsing of the leaves as it can shorten the plants life as a lot of energy is used every time.