Mimosa

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mimosa

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Mimosa pudica
2. What is the conservation status?Least Concern
3. What is a Mimosa plant and why does it fold its leaves?Mimosa pudica is a shy plant that folds its leaves when touched. The movement happens because special cells at the leaf base lose water and pressure, making the leaves close quickly.
4. How fast do the leaves of Mimosa move?The leaflets close in just milliseconds, and the whole leaf can droop within a few seconds.

Seismonasty: A nastic movement in plants that is a response to mechanical shock or vibration.
Turgor Pressure: The pressure exerted by the fluid within a plant cell against its cell wall, essential for maintaining rigidity.
Pulvinus: A specialized joint-like structure at the base of a plant organ (like a leaf or leaflet) that enables rapid movement.
Transpiration: The process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers.