Mimosa somnians, commonly known as dormideira, is a species of woody shrub in the genus Mimosa and the family Fabaceae. It is native to the Caribbean, Central America and South America. It is a short, low-lying shrub with minuscule thorns lining its stem-like hairs.
Mimosa somnians is notable for exhibiting rapid plant movement. Its leaves are sensitive to tactile stimulus, folding quickly when touched, similar to Mimosa pudica. It can be differentiated from Mimosa pudica in that its leaves are bipinnate, there are more than four subbranchlets and these originate from more than one point on the branch.
Mimosa somnians leaflets are 4–5 mm long. The flowers form pink balls. It propagates by seeds.
Forms, subspecies and varieties Mimosa somnians f. viscida Mimosa somnians subsp. longipes Mimosa somnians subsp. viscida Mimosa somnians var. aquatica Mimosa somnians var. deminuta Mimosa somnians var. diminuta Mimosa somnians var. glandulosa Mimosa somnians var. lasiocarpa Mimosa somnians var. leptocaulis Mimosa somnians var. longipes Mimosa somnians var. lupulina Mimosa somnians var. possensis Mimosa somnians var. somnians Mimosa somnians var. velascoensis Mimosa somnians var. viscida
Uses In Guyana, it is used to calm down irritable children via washing. Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana), Retrieved 5-07-08
Chemical constituents Mimosa somnians contains (whole plant) about 0.029% tryptamine and about 0.029% methyltryptamine.
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