pudica

Declared plant in Western Australia
November 2012
Giant sensitive plant
(Mimosa invisa)
Family : Mimosaceae
Form : Tree/Shrub - Perennial
Status : Present in WA
An erect climbing annual or short lived shrub, surviving 18 – 24
months, growing to a height 2-3 m. Native of Brazil
Stems : Conspicuously 4 angled, branching profusely 2-4
m long, occasionally 6 m, with numerous
recurved prickles 3-6 mm long, occurring at
intervals on the angles of the stems.
Leaves : Bright green; bipinnate 10-20 cm long, consisting
of 4-9 pairs of primary segments, each with 10-
20 pairs of opposite leaflets without any stalks, 6
-12 mm long by 1.5 mm wide. Leaflets fold when
touched, and at night.
Flowers : Pinkish violet, numerous in globular heads about 1.2 cm diameter, 1-3 heads arising on
separate stalks from the leaf axils. Petal tube four lobed with 8 pinkish-violet stamens that
protrude beyond the petals.
Fruit : A softly spiny, 3-4 seeded, flattened pod, borne in clusters in the leaf axils, each 1-3.5 cm
long 6-10 mm wide, splitting along the valves into 1 seeded segments.
Seed : Light brown, glossy, flattened, oval in outline, 2-3 mm long, with a u-shaped mark on each
face.
Root : Robust branched taproot to 1-2 m, with nitrogen-fixing nodules amongst the fine fixing
roots.
Declaration
Category : P1, P2
Location : For the whole of the State.
Standard Control Codes (these may vary for individual plants)
P1
REQUIREMENTS
Prohibits movement
P2
REQUIREMENTS
Aim is to eradicate
infestation
Introduction of the plant or their seeds into, or movement within the
declared area is prohibited.
The declared plant is to be eradicated within the declared area
Treat to destroy all plants and prevent seed set.
The infested area must be managed to prevent the spread of seed or
plant parts within and from the area on or in livestock, fodder, grain,
vehicles and/or machinery.

Giant sensitive plant (Mimosa invisa) - Declared plant in Western Australia
Control Method
Recommended herbicides : Actively growing
Fluroxypyr
Herbicide
Basta®
Active ingredient 200 g/litre glufosinate ammonium (Group N)
Amount of product per 10
litres water
Rate of product per hectare
20 - 50 mL
2 - 5 litres
Wetting agent dilution 1:400
Time of application
Remarks
More information and other
control methods
Apply when actively growing.
Cover all foliage thoroughly.
Registered for M. invisa (common sensitive plant only).
Follow-up treatment usually required.
Dicamba @20 mL/10 L; also effective on M. pudica
Herbicide : Fluroxypyr
Active ingredient : 200 g/litre fluroxypyr (Group I)
Rates of dilution for spot : 0.15 litres per 100 litres water
spraying
Amount of product per 10
litres water
: 50 mL for Common sensitive (M. pudica)
30 mL for Giant sensitive plant
Rate of product per hectare : 1.3 - 1.5 litre
Wetting agent dilution : 1:400 Non- ionic wetting agent or Uptake® spraying oil
Time of application : Actively growing before flowering
Remarks : Will kill legumes
More information and other
control methods
: Aerial application of 3 L/ha for M. pigra.
Also Grazon® DS is registered for sensitive plant.
Also formulations containing 333 and 400 g/L available
Herbicide : Cadence
Active ingredient : 700 g/kg dicamba (Group I)
Amount of product per 10 : 30 g
litres water
Rate of product per hectare 1430-1700 g Registered in NT for Mimosa pigra
Time of application : Actively growing plants, preferably during the wet season.
Retreatment may be necessary to control new germination of
seedlings.
More information and other : High volume – Thoroughly wet all leaves and stems
control methods
Basal bark – spray all around base and 25-40 cm up the stem.
Only apply plants < 5 cm basal diameter
Cut stump – apply to plants up to 10 cm basal diameter. Cut
trees as close to ground as possible and spray immediately
before sap dries.
Herbicide : Triclopyr + picloram
(various trade names - APVMA site)
Active ingredient : 300 g/L tryclopyr + 100 g/L picloram (Group I)
Amount of product per 10 : 20 mL
litres water
Wetting agent : Use 100% non-ionic wetting agent such as BS-1000
More information and other
control methods
: Try to avoid causing leaves to fold up before spraying.
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Giant sensitive plant (Mimosa invisa) - Declared plant in Western Australia
Other relevant information related to this topic:
Quarantine WA
Permitted and quarantine species list
Off-label permit of a registered agvet chemical product
(Declared plants: Permit number – per13236)
Off-label permit (olp) for use of a registered agvet chemical product
(Environmental weeds: Permit number – per13333)
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