Sensitivity plant

[turner]

I have a sensitivity plant and it has about 11 flowers that are going to bloom (within the week) and one that has already opened. This is only the second time I've seen it make flowers and I fugured that I should jump on the chance to do something with them. I'm not sure if there are different types of sensitivity plants but mine makes flowers that are light purple and they kinda look like the shape of a planet blowing up!. On the tips of each small purple strand there is a small amount of white stuff (am assuming its pollen). I just can't figure out what to do with it, and where to put it once the flowers open up.

If anyone has any ideas on how to polinate these babies i would really appreciate it.

Thanks, Turner

[turner]

anyone? please! they are going to open any day now.

[Est]

Well, having seen the flower itself after doing some searching, I understand your confusion http://www.**********.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/new/smile_n_32.gif Well, I only saw a few pictures but if you can't find out where the pollen goes, well, then I'd figure let nature take its course and you may end up with some seeds. Sorry I can't offer more help...

[TheAlphaWolf]

all I can say (not having a good picture or a flower to inspect) that you should try to find long skinny things that are moist at the tip and put the pollen there :P

[turner]

Ok, the first flower wilted and fell off. Im not sure if it was polinated or not. Should I plant it and see what happens, or do I wait for the main structure of the flower to decompose and then plant what is left?

[scottychaos]

anything that wilts and falls off wont be a seed, or a seed pod. it was probably just the dead flower itself.
if the flower was polinated, the flower itself can fall off, and a seed pod should develope and grow, might take awhile to get mature seed pods (weeks or months)

here is a photo of the flower:
http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week147.shtml


and here are the seed pods!
look like little beans..
http://www.tropilab.com/sleepinggras.html

the flowers, leaves and seed pods look just like the "Mimosa tree" that is common in the south, but on a smaller scale.
Albizia julibrissin
http://cricket.biol.sc.edu/herb/AA/Albizia_julibrissin2.jpg
they must be related.

a good general page about Mimosa Pudica.http://www.bio.miami.edu/mimosa/mimosa.html

Scot

[turner]

So if the flowers does get pollinated, the seed pods will grow on the plant later? Weird! http://www.**********.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/new/smile_n_32.gif

[scottychaos]

Quote[/b] (turner @ Jan. 20 2005,2:57)]So if the flowers does get pollinated, the seed pods will grow on the plant later? Weird! http://www.**********.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/new/smile_n_32.gif
weird?
ummm..thats only what every plant in the world does! http://www.**********.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/new/smile_l_32.gif

Scot

[TheAlphaWolf]

LOL

[turner]

K, maybee I misunderstood you, or maybee i'm just having a blond moment. I never knew that all plants grow seed pouches, I thought the seeds came from the centre of the flower, after it is pollinated. Not in seperate bundles. http://www.**********.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/new/smile_l_32.gif