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Vine Gallery

Fluff Ball Flowered Vines - Mimosa

        

Fabaceae (Leguminosae) - Legume family
Nuttall's Sensitive Briar (Catclaw Sensitive Briar) Mimosa nuttallii (Mimosa quadrivalvis var. nuttallii, Schrankia nuttallii, Leptoglottis nuttallii)
This plant's Genus and species name has changed from the one mentioned in most guide books.
Plant is a ground hugging vine. Flowers are the same as other Mimosa, pink fluff ball with yellow tips that fades to whitish, 3/4" wide. Stems are ribbed and has "cat-claw" prickles. Leaflets are sensitive to touch, controlled by the cells at their base (swollen bump). Leaflet rib ends in a spike. Pod is very similar to Mimosa roemeriana. Young pods are flattened, look hairy with prickles, outlined by the ruplum. Older pods are, long, ribbed, and prickly. Valves and replum are about the same width giving it a square cross-section. Walls do not constrict between seed.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2002
(Native of Texas - Taylor, etc.)

Similar Species

Roemer's Sensitive Briar (Fourvalve Mimosa) Mimosa roemeriana (Mimosa quadrivalvis var. platycarpa, Schrankia roemeriana)
This plant's Genus and species name has changed from the one mentioned in most guide books.
Plant is a ground hugging vine. Flowers are the same as other Mimosa, pink fluff ball with yellow tips that fades to whitish. Stems are ribbed and has "cat-claw" prickles. Leaflets are sensitive to touch, controlled by the cells at their base (swollen yellow-green bump). Leaflet rib ends in a spike. Pod is very similar to Mimosa nuttallii. Young pods are flattened, look hairy with prickles, outlined by the ruplum. Older pods are, long, ribbed, and prickly. Valves and replum are about the same width giving it a square cross-section. Walls do not constrict between seed.
(Native of Texas - Brown, Coke)

Eastern Sensitive Plant (Western Sensitive Plant) Mimosa rupertiana (Mimosa quadrivalvis var. occidentalis, Schrankia occidentalis)
This plant's Genus and species name has changed from the one mentioned in most guide books.
Similar to other Sensitive Briar except stems are not as prickly.
(Native of Texas - Nolan)