Many believe that the rapid movement discourages herbivores and hence is a defensive strategy for the plant. There is a single upper petal, and 4 lower petals, with 2 fused together on each. There are 3 sepals, one of which is larger than the other two and projects behind the flower into a spur -like sac that contains nectar. The species name pudica comes from the Latin word meaning shy or shrinking. EXPLANATION: The touch-me-not plant (Mimosa pudica) is an interesting plant as it is one of the plants which can actively respond to a physical or environmental stimulus. The leaf arrangement on the stem may be alternate, opposite, or whorled. While all living organisms are interesting in their own way, Mimosa pudica, also called the sensitive plant or the touch-me-not plant, is a unique and fascinating organism. The touch-me-not plants leaves droop when touched, as the water present in the leaves flows back into the plant in response to the stimulus. Scientists have studied why Mimosa pudica has evolved this energy consuming mechanism despite its interference with photosynthesis. Touch-me-nots are herbaceous plants with showy flowers. After some time, typical conditions are restored, and the leaves reopen. This process leads to loss of turgidity and like a punctured water balloon, the leaflets collapse. Upon receiving external stimuli like touch, rapid cooling or heating, or shaking, an electric signal is triggered wherein many aquaporins or channels release ions of potassium, calcium, sodium and chlorine, and water from the vacuoles or fluid sacs, through a process called osmosis. Water maintains the shape of the plant cells by creating an internal pressure called turgor pressure. When we look at this sophisticated equipment through a microscope, it becomes evident that the major participants in this mechanism are water, fluid-filled sacs of the cells and charged ions. In this shy plant, the motor machinery for these responses is found in the pulvini-an enlarged section at the base of a leaf stalk. Needs some direct light, well-drained soil & water consistency should be moist not soggy.
What makes the plant shy away from touch? Rapid movements induced by contact, known as seismonastic responses, are the reason. Named as Sensitive plant, sleepy plant, action plant, shame plant, shy lady, shy plant etc. We have all enjoyed seeing it fall asleep probably wondering what happened inside the plant and perhaps waiting with curiosity for it to reopen! Pioneering biophysicist, Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose was one of the first to study the electrical signalling between plant cells in the touch-me-not and invented devices to measure the mechanical response of the plant. Do you remember poking a plant that quickly closed its leaves, seemed to droop and shy away? An introvert among plants and a favourite among all of us, the touch-me-not or chuimui in Hindi, is aptly named Mimosa pudica by scientists, where pudica is Latin for shy or chaste.
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