The OMG Don't Touch Me Plant

Sometimes known as the "tickle plant," "shy plant," or "sensitive plant," this little cutie—the mimosa pudica—shrivels up its leaves when touched, then slowly relaxes and unfurls again once it thinks you've gone away. Now the M.P. has an awesome music video of sorts on Youtube, which you should definitely check out below.



Also known as the ‘Shy Plant’, ‘Humble Plant’, ‘Sleeping Grass’, ‘Touch-Me-Not’, ‘Sensitive Plant’ and ‘Modest Princess’, the Mimosa pudica reacts to touch as if it is indeed ‘shy’. Native to South and Central America, it’s actually now considered a ‘pantropical weed’. Still, its reaction to touch makes it a bit more anthropomorphic than your basic potted pathos. Want a Tickle Plant of your own? You can order seeds from ticklemeplant.com.

I don't know if these plants are damaged by excessive touching, but I do know that when I tried to keep one it died an early death, probably because I put it on top of the radiator and forgot to water it. (I have to believe it was that—I couldn't live with the guilt of having touched it to death, in a tragic Of Mice and Men-type scenario.)