M. texana |
M. borealis |
M. aculeaticarpa |
|
When several pods of both M. borealis and M. texana are available, their relative differences are generally apparent. But a single pods alone may not suffice for field identification. Unless the pods are badly weathered (as is often the case in late summer) or poorly handled (e.g., by touching the base of the pod), examination under a microscope (20X) generally will reveal a number of distinctive features, even flower structure, since the dried flower generally persists around the base of the pod. (Cf. Flower Data from Mimosa Pods.)
Selected pod differences available to the naked eye are tabulated below (values based on Barnaby 1991).
| Species |
pods per cluster |
pod length |
pod width |
color when ripe | base | replum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. borealis | 1-5 | 25-60 mm | 6-10 mm | brown | stipitate(1) | stout, deeply constricted |
| M. texana | 2-9 | 18-35 | 4.5-6 | red-brown | subsessile(2) | shallowly constricted |