Swaziland's Alien Plants Database

Mimosa pigra L.

FABACEAE

Giant sensitive plant

Invasive, Potential problem species

Origin: Tropical America (Mexico and Cuba to N Peru and NE Argentina); now pantropical

Growth Form: Tree/shrub

Plant Description: Plant: Shrub or tree to 6 m high; stems and leaves hairy, armed with thorns; stem thorns broad-based, up to 7 mm long. Leaves: Yellowish-green, 40–80 mm long, with a straight thorn at the junction of each of the 6–16 pinnae pairs; sometimes with thorns between the pairs; sensitive to touch. Flowers: Pink or mauve, in ± globose heads, borne singly or in groups of two or three, in upper leaf axils, October–May(–all year). Fruit: Brown, densely bristly pods, clustered, 30–80 mm long, breaking transversely into 12–26 segments, each containing a seed; the pod sutures remaining as an empty frame.

Key Features:

Control:

Comments: Suspected/Possible

More information:
Weeds & Invasive Plants Home Page

Photo - leaves