Flora Zambesiaca

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Key to Mimosa


1 a Pinnae in 1-2 pairs, subdigitately arranged on the very short rhachis which is much exceeded by the petiole; stamens 4; leaves without prickles on the petiole or rhachis (though bristly hairs may be present)
FZ account for Mimosa pudica
b – Pinnae in (2)3-21 pairs, pinnately, not subdigitately arranged along the rhachis which is usually as long as or longer than the petiole; stamens (7)8(10); leaves usually prickly but sometimes unarmed
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2 a Leaves without prickles on the petiole or rhachis
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b – Leaves ± prickly on the petiole and/or rhachis
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3 a Heads of flowers arranged “racemosely” along a single main axis; petiole 2-8 cm. long
FZ account for Mimosa invisa var. inermis
b – Heads of flowers arranged paniculately, the main inflorescence-axes branched; petiole 0·3-7 cm. long
FZ account for Mimosa bimucronata
4 a Rhachis of the leaf with a short or long, straight, erect or forward-pointing, slender prickle at the junction of each of the pairs of pinnae, often with other prickles also; leaflets often setulose on the margins, in 15-42 pairs; pods densely bristly all over, 0·9-1·4 cm. wide
FZ account for Mimosa pigra
b – Rhachis of the leaf without prickles at the junctions of the pinna-pairs, though often prickly elsewhere; leaflets not setulose if pods with bristles all over, then not more than 0·45 cm. wide
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5 a Leaflets (2)5-10(12) mm. wide; petiole (0·5)3·5-4·5 cm. long; pinnae (2)3-7 pairs
FZ account for Mimosa busseana
b – Leaflets 0·7-2 mm. wide; petiole 0·2-8 cm. long; pinnae 3-15 pairs
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6 a Petiole 0·2-0·6 cm. long; rhachis 8-19 cm. long; pinnae 10-15 pairs; pods with prickles on the margin only, 7-8 x 1·2-1·4 cm.
FZ account for Mimosa mossambicensis
b – Petiole 2-8 cm. long; rhachis 1·3-9 cm. long, pinnae 3-10 pairs; pods prickly on the margins and the surface, 1·5-3·5 x 0·4-0·5 cm.
FZ account for Mimosa invisa

Flora Zambesiaca