Spanish mimoso — sensitive, referring to the movements induced in the leaves of some species when touched.

Erect or scrambling shrubs, sometimes prostrate, with or without thorns. Leaves bipinnate, often with stipular thorns, branches per compound leaf variable. Leaflets opposite, stalkless. Flower clusters spikeor head-like. Flowers 3-5-parted. Sepals and petals united. Stamens as many as or twice the corolla lobes, free. Fruit pod splitting into single-seeded segments; seeds flat.

Pre-treated seed.

M. pudica with motile leaflets; flowers pink or lilac; stipules spiny and bent backwards.

About 450 species from tropical and warm areas, mostly America. Australia has 3 species.

Isely (1971), Barneby (1991).

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Mimosaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.