Comments

Comments are encouraged and appreciated. We are amateur botanist, and we do make mistakes sometimes with our identifications. We strive to make this a good identifying resource. All comments are moderated by me and may take several days to appear. This is due to the high number of inappropriate comments that have nothing to do with this subject.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Catclaw sensitive briar, Little-leaf mimosa, Littleleaf sensitive-briar (Mimosa microphylla Dry.)


Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Synonyms: Schrankia uncinata

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Photographic Location: Fall Creek Falls State Park TN.

Weak, sprawling stems, up to 3 ft. long, are armed with hooked prickles. Bi-pinnately compound leaves, having an airy appearance. The leaflets are sensitive to the touch if one brushes against them or touches them, they immediately fold up against each other, suggesting the name sensitive briar. They also close at night and in cloudy weather. The fragrant flowers look like small pink balls and grow along the stem at varying intervals. They have 4 or 5 sepals, 4 or 5 united petals, 8–10 pink or rose-purple stamens, and 1 pistil flower heads occur on stalks from leaf axils. The fruit is a long, slender pod, densely covered with prickles.

Smooth-leaf Sensitive-brier is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), which includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and vines with compound or occasionally simple leaves and flowers usually in clusters.

No comments:

Post a Comment