Plants · La Saladita, Guerrero

Sensitive Plant

Mimosa pudica

Spanish: Dormilona

Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
Photographed by lesliecook04 on iNaturalist

Mimosa pudica is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant of the pea/legume family Fabaceae. It is often grown for its curiosity value: the sensitive compound leaves quickly fold inward and droop when touched or shaken and re-open a few minutes later. For this reason, this species is commonly cited as an example of rapid plant movement. Like a number of other plant species, it undergoes changes in leaf orientation termed "sleep" or nyctinastic movement. The foliage closes during darkness and reopens in light. This was first studied by French scientist Jean-Jacques d'Ortous. In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Most often recorded in Feb, Oct.

TaxonomyMagnoliopsida › Fabales › Fabaceae
Local records2 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records34,923 on iNaturalist
Recorded here2018 – 2024
Months recorded near La Saladita
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Plants guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/mimosa-pudica/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.