Mimosa  pudica 

( one of the top ten amazing plants)

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  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.