Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Native range: Central America.
Description: Trailing or ascending perennial herb or shrub from 4 to 20 feet with pinnately compound leaves consisting of numerous, 1/16 inch wide and 1/4 to 1/2 inch long narrow, featherlike leaflets. The leaflets are sensitive and fold together when touched. The plant is covered with curved, sharp thorns on the stems and petioles, and straight spines along the leaf midrib. Pink, multi-stammened flowers are clustered in a powderpuff-like head and are principally produced in spring and summer. Legumes are flat, brown, linear pods, 3 to 4 inches in length and produced in clusters. Seeds mature in only five weeks.
Ecological threat: Catclaw mimosa was first reported in Florida in 1953 and within twenty years it was reported from Highlands, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and St. Lucie counties. While it has not caused major disturbances in natural areas of Florida to date, it is worrisome because of problems it has caused in other parts of the world outside its natural range. It prefers wet sites and has been found colonizing canal banks, irrigated pasturelands, and other wet, disturbed sites. Once established, it tolerates flooding and has the potential to become a serious problem in freshwater wetland habitats.
Distribution in Florida: Central and southern Florida but currently more common in central Florida.
Background: Despite its wicked thorns, catclaw mimosa was introduced into Thailand in 1947 as a cover crop and for erosion control and has since become a major weed in southeastern Asia. It is unknown how it made entry into Florida but efforts to eradicate it from the state are underway.
|
