Species page

Bristly Sensitive-briar

Mimosa hystricina

There are several species of sensitive plants or sensitive briars in Texas, low herbaceous plants with leaves that react to being touched and with groups of flowers that look like exploding fireworks. In the era before TVs and video games, the simple act of touching the leaves to see them fold up was a favorite pastime for children. The species shown here occurs only in southeast Texas, where it blooms mostly in the spring.