34- Dormideira - Mimosa pudica L (Leguminosae)

 

Sub-shrubs, prostrate growth, with a slightly reddish green stem, covered by fine and persistent spines. Composite leaves, with spines in the central rib that connects them, leaves with 6 to 20 pairs of leaflets, of approximately 0.5 to 1 m, oval and oblong. The flowers are born in groups in the leaf armpits, in a pink, rounded color, with a “pompom” appearance, with thorns on the stem. Pod type fruit, with thorns.

 

In the urban environment, the cerrado is in danger. One of them is the city gardeners who cut everything between the lawn and the treetops. For some reason the Cerrado Infinito always had the luck of some protector showing up at the last minute preventing the cut; one of those times I tried to convince them. The conversation started out difficult, but I managed to get their boss to show the plants; although at first he was quite indifferent, he changed instantly with the drowsiness. When touching his sensitive leaves, memories bubbled in his mind about his childhood in Pirituba, when they were still common there. The grown man with a certain teary look, kept touching the leaves to see them close and, in the end, asked us to talk to his superiors, who suggested we make a cooperation term avoiding incidents.

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Distribution: Latin America, in open fields, sunny areas and environments disturbed by man.

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Situation in São Paulo: Occasionally occurs in vacant lots.

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How to plant: The ones we have in Cerrado Infinito were donated by the neighboring garden store, which eventually sells them. It reproduces easily from seeds, just plant and water.

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Uses: Ornamental, prickly plant, which has the incredible ability to move instantly when touched, with a curious effect and very attractive to children, despite the thorns.

 

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DAVID, M .; GONÇALVES, KG; NETO, GG THE MIMOSOIDEAE SUBFAMILY FOR FLORA DE MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL. BIODIVERSITY, V. 14, N. 3, 2015.

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DUTRA, VF; GARCIA, FCP MIMOSA L. (LEGUMINOSAE-MIMOSOIDEAE) FROM THE RUPESTRAL FIELDS OF MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL. IHERINGIA, SERIE BOTÂNICA, V. 69, P. 51-90, 2014.

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SILVA, JS; DE SALES, MF THE GENDER MIMOSA (LEGUMINOSAE-MIMOSOIDEAE) IN THE MICROREGION OF THE IPANEMA VALLEY, PERNAMBUCO. RODRIGUÉSIA, P. 435-448, 2008.