Why does the mimosa pudica (the sensitive plant) fold up when you touch it or when it is stimulated?

Question

Why does the mimosa pudica (the sensitive plant) fold up when you touch it or when it is stimulated? What is the reason/mechanism for the folding?Thanks!

Answer 1

When you gently touch the narrow fern-like leaflets they almost instantaneously fold together and the leaf stalk droops. This sometimes sets off a chain reaction, with several leaf stalks falling on top of one another, causing the collapse of a whole section of foliage, or perhaps the whole plant. When left to its own devices, the plant gradually returns to normal, this taking up to about half an hour. This touch-induced movement of leaves is known scientifically as thigmonasty, and is thought to be a defensive mechanism against grazers.

At night, the leaves will also fold and bend in movements known as nyctonastic movements (reaction to absence of light).

Go on the YouTube, and see a live demo of the folding plant!!

Answer 2

I found the greatest source of information about the sensitive plant or more commonly known by children as the TickleMe Plant at www.sensitiveplant.com

In fact they have the highest quality and fastest growing sensitive plant or

TickleMe Plant seeds. They even have experiments. So for more detailed information, fun facts and supplies, I highly recommend checking out the sensitiveplant.com website

Answer 3

(Mimosa pudica) most commonly known by children,educators and in botanical gardens as the TickleMe Plant moves in response to a being tickled because of loss of turgor pressure in the leaves. The TickleMe Plant will even drop its branches. You can watch one leaflet fold up and then the others one at a time.  When a leaf is is tickled or, excessive heat, cold or wind is present, due to chemicals in the plant, water moves from one part of the plant's cells to another part of the plant's cells. This action of the water moving reduces the turgor "water" pressure in the cells and causes the leaves to become wilted. The TickleMe Plant's movement may be a way that the plant protects itself from animals that might not expect the plant to move, causing them to move on to a less active plant. This is a gardening experience no child ( or person young at heart) should miss.