SafePlants

Sensitive Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)

Chamaecrista nictitans, commonly known as sensitive partridge pea, sensitive cassia, small partridge pea, or wild sensitive plant, is a herbaceous legume species with intriguing leaf movements and ecological significance.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant has pinnately-compound leaves.

Considerations for Children

• The plant is called "sensitive" because the leaves, or leaflets, fold together when touched.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench var. nictitans
• Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
• Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Subspecies
• Synonym: Cassia nictitans
• Common Names: Sensitive partridge pea, sensitive plant, small partridge pea, sensitive cassia, wild sensitive plant.

Distribution and Habitat

The sensitive partridge pea is native to North America. A Jamaican TYPE specimen was collected in 1786 from a damp ditch.

The species is described as widespread and locally common throughout its range.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• It is described as a slender-stemmed annual, typically growing up to 1 foot tall.
• The leaves are pinnately compound, composed of numerous leaflets (up to 20), which are sensitive to the touch.
• It features distinctive sensitive plant-like leaves and small, prominent yellow flowers.
• Stems are erect, slender, glabrous to minutely pubescent, usually branched with ascending to widely spread branches.

Ecological Role

• This plant is a nitrogen-fixing annual, beneficial for rebuilding soil.
• The seeds of Chamaecrista fasciculata (a related species) provide food for quail, prairie chickens, pheasants, ducks, and other grassland birds.
• It serves as a caterpillar food plant for a number of butterflies.

Quirky Facts

• The leaves are "sensitive" because they fold together when touched.
• The leaves also close completely at night because they are sensitive to light.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The plant serves as a caterpillar food plant for a number of butterflies.

Further Information

• Dave's Garden is mentioned as a resource for gardening tips and ideas.
• Wikimedia Commons hosts images of Chamaecrista nictitans.
• The USDA provides information on partridge pea seeds as food for various bird species.