Question

Chui-Mui (Mimosa pudica) plant belongs to which family?
A) Caesalpiniaceae
B) Papilionaceae
C) Mimosoideae
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Mimosa pudica and Pisum sativum belong to the same family.

Complete Answer:
Here the name of Chui-Mui plant, what comes to our brain is a plant who is shy enough to fold its leaves when touched slightly. Well, there is a scientific reason behind that. Actually, when the Chui-Mui plant folds its leaves when touched, it is said to be showing thigmonastic movement. It is a type of movement which occurs in response to touch. It is non-directional, so it does not involve any growth.
As soon as the Chui-Mui plant is touched, the cells of that point lose water and become flaccid. Soon the stimulus spreads to other cells and the water escapes from the leaves via pulvinus. This results in drooping of leaves.

Now, let’s talk about the plant. It belongs to the family Fabacease, to which our famous legumes also belong. The whole classification of Mimosa pudica is given below:
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
   Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
     Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
       Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
         Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
           Subclass Rosidae
              Order Fabales
                      Family Fabaceae – Pea family
                         Subfamily - Mimosoideae
                              Genus Mimosa L. – sensitive plant P
                                  Species Mimosa pudica L. – shameplant

Since, the question is about the family of Mimosa pudica, which is Fabaceae, and in the option, its subfamily is mentioned, we will select option D as the correct answer.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Note: Thigmonasty as seen in Chui-Mui plants is different from thigmotropism as seen in tendrils of money plants. Thigmotropism is the directional movement that also occurs in response to touch, but is responsible for causing the growth of the plant.