Mimosa pudica L.

Family : Mimosaceae

Synonym(s) : Mimosa tetrandra Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., Mimosa pudica L. var. tetrandra (Willd.) DC., Mimosa unijuga Duch. & Walp., Mimosa pudica L. var. unijuga (Duch. & Walp.) Griseb.

English Name : Sensitive Plant

Origin : South America


Description

M.pudica is a diffuse undershrub, 50 to 90 cm. high. The stem and rachis are clothed with prickles; the leaves are bipinnate, pinnae 2 to 4, digitatively arranged, with 10 to 20 pairs of leaflets; the flowers in pinkish globose heads; the pods, small, flat, straw-coloured, with many bristles; the seeds, 3 to 5.


Habitat

Prefers wet areas; Garhwal (Himalayas) (up to 1200 m).


Parts Used : Root, leaf and plant


Herb Effects

Antibiotic, antimicrobial, anti-neurasthenic, antispasmodic, diuretic, nervine, poison, sedative.

Active Ingredients

Turgorines (hormones) and tubulin (plant), ascorbic-acid, crocetin, crocetin-dimethyl-ether, D-glucuronic-acid, D-xylose, linoleic-acid, linolenic-acid, mimosine, mucilage, norepinephrine, oleic-acid, palmitic-acid, sitosterol, stearic-acid.


Medicinal Use

Problems of the urinary tract, including stones, to relieve asthma and diarrhea (root decoction); swolen areas involving glands and in hydrocele (leaf paste); in dressings for sinus and also as an application for sores and piles (leaf juice); hemorrhoids (leaf juice and plant); against itching, relieves scabies patches, fistula (plant).


Contraindication

Do not use in pregnancy or nursing.. The dried plant is reportedly toxic to cattle.

Reference