MIMOSACEAE - Mimosa Family
Trees, shrubs, or herbs
Leaves usually
bipinnately compound, alternate
Flowers bisexual,
actinomorphic, in tight clusters
Fruit a legume
40 genera, 2000 species, mostly tropical and subtropical, in dry
regions.
The Mimosaceae is divided into five groups.
Prosopis - mesquite,
a native of the Southwestern U.S., its distribution has expanded due
to overgrazing. The wood is very hard and large trees with long
straight trunks are valued for furniture. It is also used to make
charcoal.
Albizia - has the common
name Mimosa but it is not a member of the genus Mimosa.
Acacia
- some species of Acacia produce food bodies and extrafloral
nectaries that attract ants, which in turn protect the plants from
herbivores.
Economic importance - gum acacia, timber, scents, charcoal from
mesquite, prairie species used for forage
Medicinal uses - leaves of Desmanthus illinoensis used as
a wash for itching.
Diagnostic characteristics: bipinnate leaves, stamens 10-many,
extending beyond corolla, flowers in tight clusters
IMAGE GALLERY
FLOWERING PLANT GATEWAY (Mimosaceae)
(Leguminosae)