Species of plant
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Mimosa diplotricha is a species of leguminous woody shrub native to the Neotropics. It is an invasive species and now has a pantropical distribution. It is commonly known as the giant sensitive plant, giant false sensitive plant, or nila grass.
Taxonomy.
"Mimosa diplotricha" is classified under the genus "Mimosa" in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family, Fabaceae. It was first described by the American botanist Charles Wright in 1869. The specific epithet is derived from Ancient Greek διπλόος ("diplóos", "double") and θρίξ ("thríx", "hair").
"Mimosa diplotricha" was also described earlier by the German botanist Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius as "Mimosa invisa" in 1837. But he had already given the name "Mimosa invisa" in 1834 to a different species. The name he gave is therefore a heterotypic posterior homonym and thus "nomen illegitimum." Wright's name becomes the earliest correct name for the species, while the name "Mimosa invisa" is now accepted as the correct name for "Mimosa rhodostachya". However the name "Mimosa invisa" is still used incorrectly by some authors for "Mimosa diplotricha."
"Mimosa diplotricha" includes three varieties:
Common names.
"Mimosa diplotricha" is known as the giant sensitive plant, giant false sensitive plant, or nila grass in English.
In the Americas, it is known "dormilona de playa", "rabo de iguana"; and "raspancilla" in Spanish; and "grande sensitive" or "sensitive géante" in French. It is also known as "sensitiva trepadora" in Cuba; and "analeira", "dormideira", "juquiri-rasteiro", "malicia-de-mulher", or "sensitiva" in Brazil.
In South Asia and Indochina it is known as "anthottawadi" or "padaincha" in India; "banla saet" in Cambodia; "cõ trinh nu móc" in Vietnam; and "maiyaraap thao" in Thailand. In Southeast Asia it is known as "duri semalu" in Malaysia; "makahiyang lalaki", "bulunsari", or "balansuri" in the Philippines; "boring", "borang", "djoekoet borang", or "puteri malu" in Nusa Tenggara; "pis koetjing" in Indonesia; and "rèmbètè" in Java.
In Oceania it is known as nila grass in Papua New Guinea; "co gadrogadro", "wa ngandrongandro ni wa ngalelevu", or "wa ngandrongandro levu" in Fiji; "vao fefe palagi" or "la'au fefe palagi" in Samoa and the American Samoa; "singbiguin sasa" in Saipan; "mechiuaiuu" in Palau; and "pikika'a papa'a" in the Cook Islands.
Description.
"Mimosa diplotricha" grows as an erect shrub or a scrambling climber, reaching a height of around . Its leaves are bipinnate and bright green with a feathery appearance. They are arranged alternately along the stems. Each leaf contains around twenty pairs of small sessile lanceolate leaflets arranged opposite each other. Each leaflet measures around long and wide. Like the related "Mimosa pudica", the leaves are sensitive to touch, and will curl up if disturbed.
The stems are characteristically very long. They are squarish in cross-section, with four ridges running lengthwise. A dense row of very sharp recurved thorns run along the ridges, each around long. The flowers are pale pink and looks like a clustered fluffy ball. They are around in diameter and arise from short stalks from the leaf joints. The corolla is fused (gamopetalous), and there are two stamens for every petal.
The flowers develop into clustered slightly curved seed pods. Each seed pod is more or less flat and covered with small prickles. They are around long and wide. The seeds are oval-shaped and flat, each around long and thick. They are light brown and polished in appearance. They are dispersed through running water or by sticking to fur or clothing. They can remain dormant for up to 50 years.
Distribution.
"Mimosa diplotricha" is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America and Central America, including parts of the Caribbean. It is not known, however, if the species is native to North America.
Invasive species.
"Mimosa diplotricha" is fast-growing and can tolerate a wide range of soil and climate conditions. Left alone, they can form impenetrable thickets within a short period that can affect movement of both people and animals, as well as planted crops. All parts of the plant are toxic to grazing animals.
"Mimosa diplotricha" is extremely invasive and rapidly colonizes areas it is introduced to. The earliest records of "Mimosa diplotricha" outside of the Americas is in Java, Indonesia in 1900; Queensland, Australia in 1929; and Fiji in 1936. Since then, it has rapidly spread and naturalized throughout Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands (including Hawaii), northern regions of Australia, and parts of Africa in the latter half of the 20th century.
References.
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