Mimosa pudica
- noun
- /mɪˈmoʊsə ˈpudɪkə/
- Specialized
:
Mimosa pudica
- The leaves of the Mimosa pudica close rapidly when touched, fascinating botanists and children alike.
Examples
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The Mimosa pudica, known as the sensitive plant, quickly closes its leaves in response to movement.
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In her indoor garden, she keeps a Mimosa pudica because she enjoys watching its sensitive movements.
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Farmers in some regions consider Mimosa pudica a troublesome weed due to its fast spread and sharp thorns.
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The Mimosa pudica is often called the 'sensitive plant.'
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Have you seen a Mimosa pudica in the garden?
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She loves to show her friends how the leaves of the Mimosa pudica fold when they are touched.
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In many gardens, the Mimosa pudica is admired for its unique ability to react to touch.
Synonyms
A tropical plant whose leaves fold when touched or at night
A plant with leaves that fold together when you touch them
A plant whose leaves fold when touched or at night
A tropical plant with grey-green leaves that fold when touched and stems with curved thorns
Surface Forms
Morphology
Mimosa + pudica
This is a scientific Latin binomial rather than a normal English phrase: one constituent ('pudica') is not an English word and the genus name is technical. Even if a learner knows 'Mimosa' as a plant, they would not reliably derive the everyday meaning 'sensitive plant' from these parts at B1 because the Latin epithet is opaque to most learners. Therefore the overall label functions as a fixed, technical name rather than a transparently compositional expression.
Etymology
Mimosa pudica is called the 'sensitive plant' because its leaves quickly fold and droop when you touch them. The Latin word pudica means 'shy', so the name pictures the plant pulling its leaves in like a shy person and explains why we call it 'sensitive'.
