Hawaii Sleeping Grass

When I first got here to the island, Matt kept telling me about this grass that moved. And I'd been there for a whole month and had never seen anything like it. He kept insisting that it was everywhere, so one day while we were on a walk, he was on the look out for it.

And, sure enough! IT MOVES!

From that moment on, I have to stop every time I see it, and touch it.
And it really IS everywhere.

Here's a video of me touching the sleeping grass

It's Hawaii Sleeping Grass... also known as:

Mimosa Pudica (it's real name)

Sensitive Plant
Humble Plant

Shameplant

Prayer Plant

and

Touch-me-not

It is also sold as an educational product and novelty gift sometimes under the trademark name the 'Tickle Me Plant"

Thank you Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_pudica


Here's what Wikipedia says why it moves:

The movement is caused by "a rapid loss of pressure in strategically situated cells that cause the leaves to droop right before one’s eyes!

My friend Sarah has an abundance of it by her front door, so when I took her home today, I couldn't control myself. I HAD TO TOUCH IT!



So, there ya go.
Hawaiian Sleeping Grass