The taxonomic name of the plant pleasantly called shame-old-lady in Jamaican is Mimosa Pudica. Other names that it goes by are shameplant, touch-me-not and sensitive plant. All these names hint at a particular characteristic of the plant, and that is its reaction when physically disturbed. When touched the leaves and stem of the shame-old-lady plant folds in and down in a perceivably embarrassed manner. This reaction to stimuli is a rare example of rapid movement in plants. A native to the Caribbean and tropical North and South America, the shame-old-lady plant, much like many other plants, has found its way to parts of Africa and Asia.
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Mimosa
Species: Mimosa Pudica
