FABACEAE

Mimosa borealis

Common Names: Catclaw, Fragrant Mimosa, Pink Mimosa

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Mimosa borealis prickles.jpg (72123 bytes)
inflorescences--based on the flowers you see here, which of the three subfamilies of Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, or Faboideae (formerly Papilionoideae)) does this species belong to? leaves and prickles (along the stems)--these prickles are really good at grabbing on to anything that brushes against the stem, giving rise to the common name catclaw.  Can you figure out the leaf complexity?  Leaves smell a little citrusy when crushed!
mimosa.borealis.frt.JPG (51822 bytes)
inflorescences again fruits (legumes)--how many seeds are present in this fruit?   Also notice the prickles all over the fruits.
Mimosa borealis fruits.jpg (27382 bytes)
legumes again, showing a more typical form (always with the prickles though!) as the flowers first emerge, the styles (pink) and the anthers (cream-colored) are very distinctive
Mimosa borealis leaves.jpg (65754 bytes)
leaves--do you see how this is probably a legume just by looking at the leaves? although this individual at Mt. Bonnell is rather small (<1m), Mimosa borealis can reach 2.5m tall