The Legend of Makahiya

by: Rinalyn Austria Calvadores

Once upon a time there lived a rich couple named Mang Dodong and Aling Iska, who had a ten-year- old daughter named Miya. She is dutiful, obedient and kind because of this attitude she was loved by her neighborhood. But shyness was one of hr distinct,she avoided interacting with people and used to locked herself in their house. Miya had a beautiful garden ,which was well known all over their town.She talked and took care of her plants, because it is the only place where she can expressed her feeling and enjoy herself.    One day a group of bandits raided the village  and killed every man they found for money.When Mang Dodong noticed the arrival of the bandits, fearing his daughter's safety , he hide Miya in the garden while Aling Iska hide herself under the be.She trembled with fear and prayed"Oh my God! Save my daughter".Then suddenly the door open  and the bandit entered the house.They hit Mang Dodong which cause him to be unconsciouss  and fell on the ground.When his wife  saw what happened she was trying to go to the garden  but the bandit saw and hit her on head.The bandits pillaged the house and took away all the money and jewelries, then they left the house to plunder other village.   When the couple regained their conscioussness they ran to the garden to look for Miya  but she was not there.They searched again and again but Miya could not be found.Then suddenly something picked  Mang Dodong's feet and had saw a tiny plants closing its leaves.The couple  knelt  at their knees and took  a closer look at the plant.After looking at the plant for a long period of time ,they came to know that the plant was their daughter Miya. Indeed, to save her from the bandits,God transformed Miya into a plant. Aling Iska wept uncontrollably, and to their surprise every tear got transformed into a small and rosy flower of the new plant  that they found in the garden.   After that, the couple tended the plant with immerse care, as they knew that  in reality the plant was their child Miya. The plant was as shy as Miya, so they named it "Miya" so that every time they saw it   they will remember their daughter but as the time goes the term Miya turn to "Makahiya" which means shyness in English which describe the distinct characteristic of  Miya.

  

            Mimosa  pudica 

( one of the top ten amazing plants)

www.rinalynaustriacalvadores.blogspot.com

  Makahiya is the vernacular name also called the sensitive plants.The scientific name is Mimosa pudica,comes from latin word pudica which means "shy".Mimosa pudica is creeping annual or perennial herb often grow for curiosity value.The species is native in South and Central America but now apantropical weeds.

   The leaves of Mimosa pudica are bipinnately compound with one or two pinnae pairs and 10-26 leaflets per pinna. The compound leaves fold inward and droops when touch and reopen minutes later.It is also closed under various other stimuli, such as warming, blowing or shaking.These types of movements have been termed seistomastic movements,the movement that occurs when specific regions of cells lose turgor pressure.

  When the plant is being disturbed specific regions on the stems are stimulated to release chemicals including potassium ions which force water out of the cell vacuoles and the water diffuses out of the cell, producing a lost of cell pressure and cell collapse of the leaf petioles.This characteristics is quite common within the Mimosedeae , subfamily of the legume family,Fabaceae.  The stimulus can also be transmitted to neighboring leaves but it is not known exactly why Mimosa pudica evolved this trait.Many scientists think that the plant uses its ability to shrink as defense from predators.May be animals are afraid to fast moving plant and would rather eat a less active one.Another possible explanation is that the sudden movement dislodges harmful insects.