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Re: What is a Mimosa?

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!
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