Multiple choice

Leaves of which of the following plants are sensitive to touch?

  1. Mimosa

  2. Mangifera

  3. Ipomoea

  4. Hibiscus
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A Correct answer
Explanation

When we touch the leaves of chhui–mui (the ‘sensitive’ or ‘touch-me–not’ plant of the Mimosa family), they begin to fold up and droop. The reason is that when such plants are touched or disturbed, certain specialised cells in the stem become sensitive and release certain chemicals. These chemicals remove water from vacuoles of the cells. As a result of this, water diffuses out of the plant cells, making them shrink.

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