A generic name for members of the
mimosa genus of plants (most commonly
mimosa sensitiva, and
mimosa pudica) whose leaves, upon being touched or exposed to
flame, retract closely against their
stem, revealing
thorns. After around an half hour, the leaves will return to their original position. They have a purple or pink
flower.
This plant is tenacious with adequate
water, it grows fast and spreads rapidly and few animals find it a palatable
dinner. The seeds
float, which encourages growth along
rivers. Various species of this plant are found natively in tropical
South America, however it has spread far around the world into
Asia and
Australia (and currently threatens rangelands in
Australia as overgrazing is allowing this plant to spread without
competition).
The
beans of this plant are rumoured to be a source of
tryptamines (specifically,
DMT and 5-MeO-DMT). In their native
South America, they are toasted, mixed with ashes and ground into a
snuff and snorted into the nose.
references: www.seedman.com, http://www.greendealer-exotic-seeds.com, http://savanna.ntu.edu.au/, http://www.deoxy.org/trypfaq.htm