sensitive plant

sensitive plant
1. Also called humble plant. a tropical American plant, Mimosa pudica, cultivated in greenhouses, having bipinnate leaves whose leaflets fold together when touched.
2. any of various other plants that are sensitive to touch.
[1650-60]

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Either of two plants in the pea family (see legume) that close up their leaves and droop when touched.

This unusually quick response is due to rapid water release from specialized cells at the bases of leaftsalks. The more common plant is Mimosa pudica (see mimosa). Spiny and shrubby, with fernlike leaves and small, globular, mauve flower puffs, it grows about 1 ft (30 cm) high as a widespread tropical weed and a greenhouse curiosity. Wild sensitive plant (Cassia nictitans) is less sensitive to touch; a larger plant, 20 in. (50 cm) high, it is native to the eastern U.S. and the West Indies.

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botany
      either of two plants, in the pea family (Fabaceae), that respond to touch and other stimulation by closing up their leaves and drooping. The more common plant is Mimosa pudica, also called humble plant. A spiny, shrubby plant growing to a height of about 30 cm (1 ft), it has fernlike leaves and small, globular, mauve flower puffs. A widespread weed in tropical regions, it is naturalized elsewhere in warm areas and is grown as a curiosity in greenhouses. The plant's unusually quick response to touch is due to rapid water release from specialized cells located at the bases of leaflet and leaf stalks.

      Wild sensitive plant (Cassia nictitans), up to 50 cm, also exhibits sensitivity to touch but to a lesser degree. It is native to the eastern U.S. and the West Indies.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sensitive plant — Sensitive Sen si*tive, a. [F. sensitif. See {Sense}.] 1. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul. [1913 Webster] 2. Having quick and acute sensibility,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sensitive plant — n. a tropical American plant (Mimosa pudica) of the mimosa family, with a spiny stem, minute, purplish flowers in spherical clusters, and leaflets that fold and leafstalks that droop at the slightest touch …   English World dictionary

  • sensitive plant — jautrioji mimoza statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis augalas (Mimosa pudica), kilęs iš Amerikos atogrąžų. atitikmenys: lot. Mimosa pudica angl. humble plant; mimosa; sensitive plant; sensitive plant;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • sensitive-plant — jautrioji mimoza statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis augalas (Mimosa pudica), kilęs iš Amerikos atogrąžų. atitikmenys: lot. Mimosa pudica angl. humble plant; mimosa; sensitive plant; sensitive plant;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • sensitive plant — /ˈsɛnsətɪv plænt/ (say sensuhtiv plant) noun 1. a Northern Hemisphere plant, Mimosa pudica, with fern like sensitive leaves which fold together when touched. 2. any of various other plants sensitive to touch, as the giant sensitive plant …  

  • sensitive plant — noun 1. prostrate or semi erect subshrub of tropical America, and Australia; heavily armed with recurved thorns and having sensitive soft grey green leaflets that fold and droop at night or when touched or cooled • Syn: ↑touch me not, ↑shame… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sensitive plant — sen′sitive plant n. 1) pln a tropical American plant, Mimosa pudica, with bipinnate leaves whose leaflets fold together when touched 2) pln any of various other plants that are sensitive to touch …   From formal English to slang

  • sensitive plant — noun Date: 1659 any of several mimosas (especially Mimosa pudica) with leaves that fold or droop when touched; broadly a plant responding to touch with movement …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sensitive plant — noun a tropical American plant of the pea family, whose leaflets fold together and leaves bend down when touched. [Mimosa pudica.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • Sensitive plant — Mimosa (E) …   EthnoBotanical Dictionary

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