Catclaw Sensitive Briar

Photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie on Flickr

​Mimosa quadrivalvus
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I learned about this plant on a prairie wildflower walk. It has adorable pink, pom-pom flowers, and when touched or blown by the wind, its leaves fold up. Here is a video of that happening. It’s another example of how awesome nature is.
 
I thought it was called cat’s paw because of the flowers, but it is actually catclaw because the briars are shaped like, well, cat claws. If you see it in a garden center, it might also be called “pink sparkle,” which suits it perfectly. It is related to the mimosa tree, with which you might be more familiar.
 
It is a relatively common prairie flower that is a legume, so related to peas and beans. However, if an area is over-grazed, it won’t grow, making it an indicator of a healthy grassland.
 
It is always fun to learn a new wildflower, especially one that does magic tricks!

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