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Family: Mimosaceae Scientific name: Mimosa pigra Description: 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 mauve, 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.
