Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Fact Sheets

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Giant sensitive tree (470)

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Relates to: Weeds

Photo 1. Continuous dense thicket of giant sensitive tree, Mimosa pigra.

Photo 2. Leaves, giant sensitive tree, Mimosa pigra.

Photo 3. Flower head, giant sensitive tree, Mimosa pigra.

Photo 4. Cluster of seed pods, giant sensitive tree, Mimosa pigra.

Photo 5. Fruit and seeds, giant sensitive tree, Mimosa pigra. Note, the bristles on the fruit.

Common Name

Giant sensitive tree; it also known as giant mimosa, sensitive tree, or catclaw mimosa. CABI calls it giant sensitive plant, but that name is also given to Mimosa diplotricha.

Scientific Name

Mimosa pigra. It is a member of the Fabaceae.

Distribution

Widespread. Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Oceania. It is recorded from Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea.

It is native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America.

Invasiveness & Habitat

An invasive shrub forming dense impenetrable thickets: a weed of roadsides, waterways, drainage ditches, grass floodplains, swamps, seasonally flooded wetlands, lowland pastures and the edges of water bodies in wetter tropical and sub-tropical regions (Photo 1). Its invasiveness is due to its aggressive growth, ability to tolerate a range of soil types, and the production of large amounts of seed.

Description

The shrub grows to about 2 m tall, but can be up to 6 m, with scattered thorns, 5-12 mm long, on the stems, branches and leaf stalks. Leaves, alternate along the stems, about 20-30 cm long, divided into 6-16 pairs of leaf-like segments (branchlets), each of which has a central midrib and up to 45 pairs of leaflets, 3-12 mm long and 0.5-2 mm wide (Photo 2). The leaflets fold together when touched or at night. Flowerheads, about 10-20 mm diameter, composed of about 100 individual pink or mauve flowers, each with eight prominent stamens (male parts), giving it a fluffy look  (Photo 3). Every flowerhead produces 10-20 seed pods which are flat, 3-12 cm long and 7-14 mm wide, covered with rust-coloured bristles (Photo 4). Pods contains up to 25 seeds; when mature the pods break into 1-seeded pieces. Seeds, 4-6 mm long and 2-3 mm wide, are oblong, brown or olive-green (Photo 5).

Spread

Spread is by seeds - large trees can produce more than 200,000 seeds a year. The seeds float in floodwater, and become attached to machinery, vehicles and boats. They are also spread in the transportation of sand, on the fur of animals, and the clothes of humans. They can pass through the gut of animals undamaged. The bush has been considered an ornamental, and used in traditional medicines.

Impact

A weed of economic and environmental significance. It forms dense stands in the wetlands of northern Australia harming the productive, cultural and conservation values of native vegetation. It affects the livelihoods of pastoralists: it blocks access to livestock watering points, herding, and smothers and replaces grasslands, greatly reducing grazing capacity. More than 80,000 ha are said to be impacted. The giant sensitive tree also prevents the collection of bush foods. In Thailand, the weed blocks rice irrigation systems, reducing crop yield. In Malaysia, it is a problem in young oil palm plantations. And in Vietnam, it has invaded unique ecosystems in protected areas, threatening the biodiversity of seasonally inundated grasslands, and this has affected tourism.

Uses

The weed has been used for erosion control, as a fuel, a green manure, a cover crop, hedges, and also for medicinal purposes. It contains mimosine which is a purgative.

Management

BIOSECURITY
The risk of introduction is high. Countries not yet infested should consider all likely pathways for entry, and apply quarantine measures accordingly. Particular attention should be given to the risks associated with the weed as an ornamental, a curiosity, or for medicinal purposes. Seeds are offered for sale on the internet, although some sites do suggest it should not be planted outside its natural range.

It is regarded as one of the worst alien invasive weeds of wetlands of tropical Africa, Asia and Australia, and the cost of control is often high. A noxious weed in Florida and Hawaii, USA, northern Australia, Thailand and South Africa. It is a restricted invasive plant under biosecurity acts in some parts of Australia; this means - a person must not release these invasive plants into the environment, give away or sell as a plant or something infested with its seeds.

Mimosa pigra is among 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species compiled by the Global Invasive Species Database, maintained by the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, 2020.

BIOCONTROL
Several insects and fungi have been released in Australia. The latest is a beetle,　Nesaecrepida infuscata, which attacks roots and leaves of the plant; it was released in 2007. A crusader bug (Mictis profana) also attacks the plant and may have potential (see fact Sheet no. 382), although a minor pest of citrus and wattles

CULTURAL CONTROL

• Physical & Mechanical
  • Hand weeding. Pull-up (or dig out) small trees before release of seeds. Not an option for large stands because of the labour involved, and because of the thorns!
  • Slashing. This is often accompanied by brushing the cut stem with herbicide. Cutting 10 cm below ground level is reported to kill the plants.
  • Bulldozing. This is an option for large stands.
• Fire. Effective as long as it is followed up with herbicide treatment.
• Hygiene
  • Treat vehicles and farm machinery. If moving from areas where the weed occurs to those weed-free, wash to remove soil. This is equally important if the machinery is being imported into a country or moved within a country. Also, ensure seeds are not carried on clothes between infested and 'clean' areas.

CHEMICAL CONTROL
In Australia: glyphosate; dicamba; fluroxpyr; glyphosate + metsulfuron-methyl; and metsulfuron-methyl, are registered (or under permit).

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Note, EU approval to use glyphosate ends in December 2022.

When using a pesticide, always wear protective clothing and follow the instructions on the product label, such as dosage, timing of application, and pre-harvest interval. Recommendations will vary with the crop and system of cultivation. Expert advice on the most appropriate herbicides to use should always be sought from local agricultural authorities.

This fact sheet is a part of the app Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

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