Fabaceae

Mimosa pigra

Common Names: Mimosa

Plant Form: Upright thicket-forming shrub. Size: 3-6 m tall. Stem: Green when young maturing to woody, with curved prickles 5-10 mm long. Leaves: Bright green 20-30 cm long alternating along stem, divided into opposite pairs of leaflets, which are further divided into 20-45 tiny pairs of leaflets. Leaves close when touched. Flowers: Pink or pale purple, 1-2 cm diameter, pom-pom shaped. Fruit and Seeds: Flattened pods 3-15 cm long, olive green to brown, hairy. Seeds in 14-26 individual segments which break off with age. Habitat: Floodplains, riverbanks, seasonal wetlands, roadsides, drains, grazing land. Distinguishing Features: Sensitive leaves which close when touched. Has longer prickles and seed pods than other Mimosa species which also have the sensitive leaves. Impacts: Dominates important wetlands, smothers and replaces grassland, blocks water access, affects Indigenous bush harvesting practices.