EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -sensitive plant, (Mimosa pudica), also called 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.

Detailed explanation-2: -Mimosa pudica goes by many names: The Sensitive Plant. The Shy Plant. Touch Me Not. The Tickle-Me Plant.

Detailed explanation-3: -It majorly possesses antibacterial, antivenom, antifertility, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, and various other pharmacological activities. The herb has been used traditionally for ages, in the treatment of urogenital disorders, piles, dysentery, sinus, and also applied on wounds.

Detailed explanation-4: -When we touch Mimosa pudica (touch me not ), our touch acts as a stimulus for the plant and it closes its leaves in return. Some chemicals are released from the stem when we touch the plant. These chemicals force water to move out of the cell leading to the loss of turgor pressure. As a result, leaves droop.

Detailed explanation-5: -The species epithet, pudica, is Latin for “bashful” or “shrinking", alluding to its shrinking reaction to contact. The species is known by numerous common names including sensitive plant, humble plant, shameplant, and touch-me-not.