The Ideas Genie Community Forum

Plants => Plant ID questions => Topic started by: Kew on January 25, 2007, 09:15:22 PM

Title: Tropical but no name.
Post by: Kew on January 25, 2007, 09:15:22 PM

It's not uncommon in the Far East ( first spotted on the road side of Ayer Rajah Road, Singapore) and is in fact a weed, but it had me fascinated. I first/last saw it in the days when I was just a curiouse teenager but I just had to touch it whenever I saw it.
I've not done a search 'cos I'm a bit lazy at the moment....! But here is the brief description...what is it?
 It's a ground hugger, pale green with leaves resembling a rowan but smaller and tighter together. When it's touched it 'falls asleep', probably a protective action to prevent being eaten, but it really does collapse. No doubt it's a very well known plant ( in this circle of people) but it just came to mind tonight and I'd love to know what it is so I can research...well, look up....a bit of detail on it.

Title: Re: Tropical but no name.
Post by: greenfinger on January 25, 2007, 09:23:57 PM

A backbencher in the Houses of Parliaments?

Title: Re: Tropical but no name.
Post by: Kew on January 25, 2007, 09:25:11 PM

Would that be your house or mine, GF? :D

Title: Re: Tropical but no name.
Post by: ideasguy on January 26, 2007, 10:34:38 AM

Ive invited Jessie (from Singapore) along to help, Ken.
She loves trees, but I'm sure she will know about this remarkable plant, or can find out in the Singapore Botanical Gardens where she works.

Title: Re: Tropical but no name.
Post by: 3fren on January 26, 2007, 12:40:21 PM

Yippppy!!!... I finally got into the Forum after much trying.....

Now, what Ken remember is interesting, at that tender age, you are touching a shy  maiden !
Let me translate a Chinese poem for you :

Married at 14 to become someone's wife
Shyness has yet to bloom
Bending the head low in a corner of the wall
Thousands beckoning, not even once the head turned.

The local name of the weed is "shy  grass " , botanical is Minmosa pudica Linn...

Title: Re: Tropical but no name.
Post by: Kew on January 26, 2007, 03:15:52 PM

Many thanks 3fen. That's the one, although I was suprised to find out that it grows up to a metre. The ones I saw were growing alongside the road and were quite small so no doubt were affected by people and traffic.
Had a Google Earth look at Tanjong Balayer/Pulau Brani/Pulau Sentosa (formally BlakenMati?) port area. I was there on and off for  around 5 years.
Couldn't believe the change of the place, quite something.
Terima Kasih.