DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
MEDICINAL PLANTS
Mimosa pudica L.

Mimosa pudica, commonly known as the Sensitive Plant or Touch-me-not, is a fascinating herb with unique characteristics, especially its leaf-folding behavior when touched. It holds significant medicinal, agricultural, and ornamental value. Despite being considered a weed in some areas, its many uses in traditional medicine, its ability to improve soil fertility, and its ornamental qualities make it a plant of interest across various cultures.
Family According to Bentham and Hooker:
• Family: Mimosaceae
• Common Synonyms: Mimosa sensitiva (L.)
Mimosa leguminosa (L.)
o Mimosa mexicana (L.)
o Mimosa undulata (L.)
Common Names:
• English Name: Sensitive Plant, Touch-me-not
• Malayalam Name: Thottavadi, തൊട്ടാവാടി
• Tamil Name: தொட்டாச்சுருங்கி-Thottaccurungi
Botanical Description:
• Habit: A creeping, herbaceous, perennial plant.
• Height: Grows up to 30–60 cm tall.
• Leaves: Bipinnate leaves with small, ovate leaflets arranged in pairs. The leaves are compound and have a unique feature: they fold inward when touched or exposed to heat (hence the name “Sensitive Plant”).
• Flowers: Small, pink or purple ball-shaped flowers arranged in dense, spherical clusters.
• Fruit: The fruit is a flat, leguminous pod, typically containing several seeds. The pods are also sensitive and curl when disturbed.
• Seeds: Brown or black, small, and hard, within the pods.
Uses of Mimosa pudica:
1. Medicinal Uses:
o Traditional Medicine: Mimosa pudica has been used in various traditional medicine systems for its therapeutic properties. It is believed to have:
 Anti-inflammatory effects, useful for treating joint pain and swelling.
 Sedative properties, helping with anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders.
 Anthelmintic qualities, used to treat intestinal worms.
 Antioxidant effects that help in combating free radical damage.
 Anti-diabetic effects, used in controlling blood sugar levels in some herbal remedies.
 Laxative properties, beneficial in treating constipation.
 Wound Healing: The plant is sometimes applied topically as a poultice for cuts and wounds to accelerate healing.
2. Culinary Uses:
o Although Mimosa pudica is not typically used for food, in some cultures, young shoots and leaves are consumed as greens in salads or cooked dishes, although this is less common compared to its medicinal uses.
3. Agricultural Uses:
o Soil Fertility: As a member of the legume family, Mimosa pudica can fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility and health.
o Green Manure: In certain regions, it is grown as a green manure crop to enrich the soil.
o Cover Crop: It is sometimes used as a ground cover plant to prevent soil erosion.