Chui-Mui / Touch-Me-Not
Mimosa pudica
Also known as Sensitive Plant, Humble Plant
- Habit
- Herb
- Found in India
- Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & more
- Flowering
- July-January
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Mimosa pudica
- Genus
- Mimosa
- Family
- Mimosaceae
- Habit
- Herb
- Habitat
- Foot hills of forests and moist places
- Native to
- South America
- Distribution
- Pantropical
- Found in India
- Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh
- Flowering & fruiting
- July-January
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (LC)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Recorded for Chui-Mui.
Flower & fruit characters
Typical of the Mimosaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- Chui-mui छुई-मुई, Lajwanti लाजवंती,छुइमुइ पौधा chhuimui paudha,लाजवाब नाजुक lajavaba najuk
- Nepali
- लज्जावती Lajjaawatee, बुहारी झार Buhaaree Jhaar, भुइँ लहरा Bhuin Laharaa
- Bengali
- লজ্জাবতী
- Tamil
- தொட்டாச்சுருங்கி thottaccurungi, தொட்டாற் சுருங்கி, தொட்டாற் சிணுங்கி
- Telugu
- అత్తిపత్తి, సిగ్గాకు
- Kannada
- ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆಮುನಿ Muttidare Muni, ಮುಚುಗ Muchuga, ನಾಚಿಕೆಮುಳ್ಳು Naachike mullu, ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆ ಮುನಿ
- Malayalam
- Tintarmani, തൊട്ടാവാടി, തൊട്ടാൽവാടി
- Marathi
- लाजाळू Lajaloo, लाजाळू, लाजाळु
- Odia
- ଲାଜକୁଳୀ ଲତା
- Sinhala
- නිදිකුම්බා
Chui-Mui in India
The touch-me-not is the plant every Indian child knows — its leaves fold shut at a touch — Chui-mui छुई-मुई (Hindi), தொட்டாச்சுருங்கி thottaccurungi (Tamil), అత్తిపత్తి (Telugu), ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆಮುನಿ Muttidare Muni (Kannada), Tintarmani (Malayalam), लाजाळू Lajaloo (Marathi). Mimosa pudica is recorded across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, a low creeping weed of lawns and waste ground.
Uses
It is best known for its remarkable touch-sensitive leaves rather than any crop use, though it has attributed uses in Ayurveda (lajjalu) — described for information, not medical advice. As a legume it also fixes nitrogen, but it can be a prickly lawn weed.
How to Identify Chui-Mui
A low, sprawling prickly herb with feathery leaves divided into many small leaflets that fold together and droop within seconds of being touched, then reopen later. It bears small pink, fluffy ball-shaped flower heads and tiny bristly pods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Touch-me-not called in different Indian languages?
- Chui-mui छुई-मुई (Hindi); தொட்டாச்சுருங்கி thottaccurungi (Tamil); అత్తిపత్తి (Telugu); ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆಮುನಿ Muttidare Muni (Kannada); Tintarmani (Malayalam); लाजाळू Lajaloo (Marathi); লজ্জাবতী (Bengali); ଲାଜକୁଳୀ ଲତା (Odia).
- Why do touch-me-not leaves close when touched?
- The plant rapidly moves water out of cells at the leaf base in response to touch, folding the leaflets — thought to deter grazing animals and insects.
- What is chhui mui (lajwanti) used for?
- Beyond its famous touch-sensitive leaves, it has attributed uses in Ayurveda (lajjalu); these are traditional uses, not medical advice.
Mimosaceae
Mimosa/Acacia family
Chui-Mui belongs to the Mimosaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Mimosaceae
View all Mimosaceae →Sources: GBIF — Mimosa pudica (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · iNaturalist — Mimosa pudica (regional names, India observations) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Mimosa pudica (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)