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Re: What is a Mimosa?

Sean A. O'Hara wrote:
> 
> At 11:37 AM 5/29/98 +0100, Jane Reese wrote:
> >In the Southern part of the US, Albizia julibrissin is called "Mimosa" and
> >has pink powder puff flowers.  I have been told that in the Mediterranian,
> >"the Mimosa trees have yellow flowers".  Would someone from that area, or
> >fortunate enough to have visited there, tell me :  Do they call a yellowed
> >flowered tree "Mimosa" and, if so, what is it?
> 
> Jane -
> 
> The common name Mimosa is applied to various trees.  The 'Yellow Mimosa'
> of which you speak is Acacia dealbata (or A. decurrens dealbata).  It is
> well established in southern Europe and is also naturalized in some
> parts of California (I beleive it is Australian).  Its flowers and leaves
> are indeed similar to the Albizia, though without the flat-topped habit
> of growth.  Other types of Acacias have also gone under this common name,
> probably any other plant that has ferny leaves and fluffy flowers.  These
> plants are in the Pea family.  I've heard Albizia julibrissin called the
> 'Pink Mimosa'.
> 
> A US native, Desmanthus illinoiensis, is called the Prairie Mimosa.
> 
> The GENUS Mimosa contains some small tender plants often grown for the
> dramatic manner in which the leaves fold up when bumped of lightly struck.
> They are closely related to the above.  Many other Pea family members
> also exhibit this characteristic in their leaves (some Oxalis and Clover
> also fold up at night).  Mimosa pudica, the Sensitive Plant is often sold
> as a curiosity or a teaching aid for children.  Eventually, the leaves
> loose their ability to fold up, especially if they are forced to demonstrate
> this trait too often!


In Spain, I have heard a child being accused of being "mimoso/a" when it
was touchy, or as we would say, "grizzly". I understood this to come
from the plant - or maybe it was the other way around?

-- 
Beverly Elischer
Perth, Western Australia
Ph. +61 8 9386 5244
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