Question

The binomial nomenclature of the Touch-me-not plant is?

Answer 1

Hint: It is also called a sensitive plant or shame plant. It is sensitive to any kind of touch. The leaves get folded when touched. The Touch-me-not plant species is the habitat of South and Central America but now found in India and other parts of the world too.

Complete answer: ‘Mimosa pudica’ has the Latin name for shy is ‘pudica’ and it belongs to the genus ‘Mimosa’. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ‘mimos’ meaning an "actor" or "mime". The Touch-me-not plant species is the habitat of South and Central America but now found in India and other parts of the world too. The Touch-me-not plants are small shrubs with thorny stems. When the leaves are touched then its leaves fold inward and droop defending themselves from being harmed. The plant is a good example of an action potential caused that leads to an electrical response of the body parts of the plant. This rapid defensive mechanism helps it to survive from harmful predators or any other external dangers. During the night its leaves are closed and reopened during day time. The roots of this plant have a rhizosphere that creates carbon disulfide (CS$_2$) that prevents certain microorganisms from growing on the roots and thus the plant body remains safe from pathogens and fungus. Mimosa pudica shows both antioxidant and antibacterial properties. They help in fixing nitrogen of the soil and the atmosphere and convert it into a form that is again used by the plant.
Therefore, the binomial nomenclature of the Touch-me-not plant is ‘Mimosa pudica’.

Note: The Touch-me-not plant is also called a shy plant or shame plant, so its scientific name with a combination of both Greek and Latin words that means mimic and shameful. The plant is a good example of an action potential caused that leads to an electrical response of the body parts of the plant.