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Makahiya

makahiya (Mimosa pudica) might as well be called touch me not — it curls and folds when touched

Too many childhood memories associated with makahiya. If you can’t recognize it, makahiya is the small fern-like plant at the foregound of the photo. It’s the plant whose leaves curl and fold up when touched. My brother and I used to entertain ourselves by poking makahiya with dry twigs wherever and whenever we found it — in U.P., in Tagaytay, in Laguna, in Cavite, and even in our own backyard. It was my mother who introduced us to the plant and I, in turn, introduced my daughters to it.

Today, when we neglect our home garden for weeks, makahiya grows among the grass and it still fascinates me. I guess I’m not the only one. Government scientists think that the makahiya may hold the cure to malaria.

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Comments

  1. Samantha says:

    Those of us who miss the homeland and are living in the USA can get their own Makahiya (known as a TickleMe Plant here) by getting a little TickleMe Plant Greenhouse to grow your very own. Visit http://www.ticklemeplant.com to see some cool videos and get your supplies.
    My kids love it and so do I.

  2. mary joy says:

    why makahiya fold when you touched please answer me fast because this is my assignment please…..

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