When you touch a Touch-me-not or Mimosa plant, the cells in its leaves to get the plant cells there to become limp (scientifically called “flaccid”). Cells become flaccid by having water pumped out of the cell sap, found in the centre of plant cells.This results in the drooping of leaves.
Why would Mimosa plants want to have moving leaves? Some scientists hypothesise that moving leaves are likely to scare off potential plant-eaters (herbivores) which would otherwise eat their precious leaves. As if this is not “scary” enough, Mimosa plants have thorns to further deter the herbivores…
Did you know that Mimosa leaves close in low light levels too (e.g. in the evening)? It is suspected that they do this to conserve energy since there is no sunlight to make food!
|
