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(Last Modified On 11/15/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/15/2012)
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Species
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MIMOSA PIGRA L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Cent. P1. in Amoen. Acad. 4:274. 1755.
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Synonym
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Mimosa asperata L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1312. 1759. Mimosa polyacantha Willd. Sp. P1. 4:1034. 1806, fide Benth. Mimosa hispida Willd. loc. cit. 1037. 1806, fide Benth. Mimosa canescens Willd. loc. cit. 1038. 1806, fide Benth. Mimosa pellita H. & B. ex Willd. loc. cit. 1037. 1806, fide Benth. Mimosa ciliata Willd. Enum. Hort. Berol. 1048. 1809, fide Benth.
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Description
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Shrub to a few meters tall, sometimes scandent, the branchlets usually con- spicuously setose-hispid and armed with formidable recurved thorns. Leaves re- ported sensitive, moderate to large, bipinnate, the pinnae up to 15 or even more pairs opposite on the rachis, the leaflets usually about 25 or 30 pairs per pinna; petiole comparatively short, seldom more than 1 or 2 cm. long, eglandular, hispid like the twigs, usually aculeate; rachis 4-25 cm. long, similar to the petiole, egland- ular, the thorns frequently becoming acicular; pinnae 2-7 cm. long, hispid; leaflets linear, 2-8 mm. long and approximating 1 mm. in width, acute apically, inequi- laterally rounded or subtruncate basally, appressed-pubescent (especially below) and setose-ciliate margined, longitudinally few-veined, these veins prominent below; stipules ovate-lanceolate, as much as 8 mm. long, pubescent. Inflorescence of solitary or few-fasciculate, pedunculate heads, axillary from foliate and sub- terminal non-foliate nodes; peduncles up to 5 cm. long in age, hispid; head ovoid, dense; floral bractlets linear, 2-3 mm. long, pectinate above the middle. Flowers sessile, whitish; calyx tubular, about 2 mm. long, cleft to one side, laciniate apically, glabrous; corolla funnelform, about 4 mm. long, short-hispid apically, the 4 lobes less than I/2 the length of the tube; stamens 8, free, the filaments scabrous and expanded distally; ovary setose-hispid. Legume linear-oblong, mostly 4-7 cm. long and little more than 1 cm. wide, short-beaked, stipitate, flat, 7- to 20-seg- mented, densely hispid-setose both on the persistent margins and on the segments.
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Habit
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Shrub
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Distribution
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Mexico to Brazil and Peru; West Indies; Africa and Far East (introduced?).
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: "Chagres", Fendler 98; Frijoles, Bro. Heriberto 84. COCLE: Penonome, Williams III. PANAMA: between Panama and Chepo, Dodge, Hunter, Steyermar/ & Allen 16684; Bro. Maurice 76i; Tumba Muerto Road, Standley 29832.
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Note
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he species is distinctive except in Mexico where a smaller, less pubescent form has been regarded as a separate species (M. Berlandieri A. Gray) or variety (var. Berlandieri (Gray) Robins.). The heavy, coarse pubescence and multipinnular leaf serve to distinguish it from other species through most of its range. M. pigra is said to be almost as sensitive as the renowned M. pudica, contracting its leaves quickly when disturbed. It bears, as does M. pudica, the expressive local name of dormilona as well as pica-pica in lower Central America, where it is a common weed of moist but open lowland areas.
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