The Touch me not plant is also known as the sensitive plant becomes ideal for its curiosity value as a unique response to touch. It is one kind of small plant which generally grows in shady areas like under a tree. The leaves of this plant are arranged symmetrically.
The compound of its tiny fern-like green leaves often closes inward and bends downwards limply as it gets touched to defend itself from any hurt like animal grazing and after a few minutes it re-opens again. The group of tiny leaves immediately shrink inwardly with a tender touch. The Hindi term for this plant is Chui Mui plant.
Biological name and details of Touch Me Not
The scientific name of the “Touch Me Not” plant is Mimosa Pudica which comes from the Latin word. In Latin, Pudica means shy, thus it has been named Mimosa Pudica. Besides having the name of a sensitive plant, it has many other names like a sleeping plant, humble plant shy plant and action plant.
There are about 4000 kinds of mimosa plants available in the world. It is one kind of flowering plant that can be included in a legume or pea family. The touch me not flower looked like a purple or pink coloured ball and the stem is quite prickly. This plant has been awarded the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticulture Society in the UK. Though its original birthplace is south and central America, now becomes a pantropical plant.
Some Important facts about Touch Me Not Plant
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #1 – Don’t Touch Me Plant is a very sensitive plant to the touch. This kind of plant is easily recognised by its characteristic of folding up and dropping down leaves when touched.
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #2 – The stems of a young plant are erect but with gradual age, these grow to creep or trail. Every slender stem generates a thin small number of prickly branches that probably are 1.5 – 2.5 mitres long.
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #3 – The orientation leaves are set in a bipinnately compound of one or two pinnae pairs. And every pinna has 10-26 leaflets. These kinds of plants are not shade-tolerant and they are found on low nutrient concentrated soil. Like other species of Fabaceae plant, the orientation of leaves undergoes the nyctinasty movements or termed ‘sleep’ during the darkness and reopens in light
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #4 – The Chui Mui flower flourishes from the leaf axil in mid of summertime. As the plant grows older more and more flowers are produced.
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #5 – Every fruit contains a cluster of two to eight pods which can be broken into two to five segments and each segment has a brown hard coated seed.
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #6 – The native place of Mimosa Pudica is tropical America. Now it can be found in many regions of Asian countries as well as pacific islands.
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #7 – This unique plant helps in changing of physio-chemical properties of soil, so the nitrogen and potassium levels are increased by sowing the plant. The suitable soil for these plants is loose and loamy with well moist and the temperature should be highly humid.
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #8 – This kind of plant is mainly kept as an indoor plant but it can be kept outdoor also. If the plant is kept in the North direction of your home, it is beneficial according to Vastu sastra.
Touch Me Not Plant Fact #9 – Mimosa Pudica has a superb ornamental value as it fulfils the decorative purpose of a garden along with providing a fence to deter animals from entering the garden.
The medicinal importance of Touch Me Not Plant
Touch me not plant is not only popular for its mysterious reaction like shrinking reaction but for its highly beneficial nutritious elements. It is traditionally used for ages as a curing remedy for piles, dysentery, sinus, diarrhoea and wounds.
As it has antibacterial, antivenom, antifertility, anticonvulsant, antidepression, aphrodisia and many more important properties. This plant helps in controlling blood sugar levels by raising insulin secretion as it possesses antioxidant properties. The paste or extracting juice made from the root of this plant helps any itchy or infection of the skin.
Uses of the whole Touch Me Not Plant
Use of roots-
Roots of the plant are crushed to make a paste or juice for treatment of boils, acenes and many other skin problems. In weather-changing times certain infections like itchy skin can be cured without applying antiseptic liquid, the paste of the Chui Mui plant root and adding sesame oil to it. Applying the paste to the affected area will be the best solution as it works faster than others.
Traditionally the roots of the Touch Me Not plant are used for snake bites, smallpox, diarrhoea, fever, ulcer, jaundice, leukoderma, haemorrhoids, fistula and asthma treatment.
Use of leaves-
the kids often develop an intestinal worm for many reasons and they may feel stomach aches if you make a paste from the leaves of this plant and feed the paste with honey, the intestinal problem and stomach ache will be gone faster without another treatment as it has anti-bacterial properties.
In the summer season, our stomachs get upset or digestible get hampered after having some oily food due to the hot and humid temperature. The juice made from the leaves of the Do Not Touch Me plant acts toward replenishing the required water balance of our body and also help in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Besides all of these, the leaves of the Chui Mui plant are used for haemorrhoids, pink eye, sleep disorders, wounds, fistula and toe disease treatment.
Use of the whole plant-
All parts of this unique plant are extremely useful in treating medical problems. This multipurpose used plant is not only famous for its sensitive reaction but also for its medical properties. According to the media reports, this plant has the essential properties to balance hormonal disorders in our bodies. It helps to get relief from the menstruation heavy bleeding.
How to Grow & Care – Touch Me Not Plant:
When you understand the exact requirement of Mimosa Pudica; you can easily grow it at home. Whether you are growing it indoor or outdoor; it needs the same type of care for both locations.
Light: The Touch Me Not plant needs at least 8 hours of sunlight. Sometimes, it can tolerate direct sunlight as well. In case, it is not receiving sunlight, the leaves may shut and you may not receive the blooms as well. The east-facing window is the ideal place for this plant. If you are growing indoors, then you must check for artificial light.
Soil: As it grows like shrubs; in most cases, it does not need nutrient-rich soil. The only requirement is loose soil with a well-draining facility.
Water: You need to keep the soil wet but not soggy. It loves moisture but too much water will lead to root rot. Keep it in a pot that has good drainage and add water only the top soil is dry.
Temperature: Touch me Not is a tropical plant. For that reason, it loves the hot and humid weather. It thrives between 25 -35 degrees Celsius temperatures.
Conclusion
The Touch Me Not plant is a great aesthetic addition to any garden and may be kept in well-lit parts of your house. Popularly known as the “Chui Mui Plant,” is one of the most fascinating houseplants. It is full of wonderful facts and eerie movements that you can experience. Pregnant women should avoid using this plant. The seeds and the saplings of this sensitive plant are easily available in many nursery stores as well as online sites. So, try growing the Mimosa Pudica plant in your home.
