Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Mimosa*

the mimosa -
an unwelcome touch
its folding leaves


(C) Jheric A. Saracho
July 20, 2005

* The leaves of Mimosa have the capability to display thigmonasty (touch-induced movement). In the sensitive plant, the leaves respond to being touched, shaken, heated or rapidly cooled. The speed of the response depends on the magnitude of the stimulus. Hitting the leaf hard with the flick of a finger will cause the leaf to close in the blink of an eye whereas a gentle touch or modest heat source applied to leaflets at the tip of a leaf will result in a slower response and the propagation of the stimulus along the leaf can be observed.

I never think of the future - it comes soon enough. - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

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