Mimosa pigra

Mimosa pigra was first identified by Linnaeus, ==Description==

Mimosa pigra is a leguminous shrub, which can reach up to 6m in height. It is armed with broad-based prickles up to 7mm long. Mimosa pigra can germinate year round if the soil is moist but not flooded. However, most germination takes place at the start and end of the wet season. Growth in a seedling is rapid, and flowering occurs between 4 and 12 months after germination. The process from flower bud to ripe seed takes about five weeks. Mimosa pigra is closely related to Mimosa pudica (common sensitive plant). It can be distinguished from Mimosa pudica by its large size, large pods (6 to 8 cm long as opposed to 2.5 cm long) and leaves, which have 6 to 16 pairs of pinnae as opposed to 1 to 2 pairs on Mimosa pudica leaves. ==Distribution and habitat==

Mimosa pigra is native to tropical America, where it occurs in a wide belt extending from Mexico through Central America to Northern Argentina. It is now widespread throughout the tropics), Australia and some Pacific Islands. ==Invasive species==

Mimosa pigra is on the list on the world's 100 worst invasive species in the Invasive Species Specialist Groups Global Invasive Species Database. It has been documented in: Australia, Cambodia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia, United States, and Vietnam. In Sri Lanka it was first seen in 1996 along a 1 kilometer stretch of banks of the Mahaweli River near Kandy in the Central Province. From there it spread further along the banks and flood plains of the Mahaweli River and the shores of the Victoria and Randenigala Dams. Its seeds are spread by the river flow and by transport of sand mined from the river. It is now also found in abandoned paddy fields, other river and stream banks, and gardens in 4 districts across 3 provinces. Noxious weed in Australia In Australia, Mimosa pigra has been declared a noxious weed or given similar status under various weed or quarantine acts. It has been ranked as the tenth most problematic weed and is listed on the Weeds of National Significance. It is currently restricted to the Northern Territory where it infests approximately 80,000 hectares of coastal floodplain. ==See also==