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sensitive partridge pea
Scientific Name: Chamaecrista nictitans ssp. nictitans
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Subshrub, Forb/herb
Duration: Annual, Perennial
Other Names:
Chamaecrista nictitans: Sensitive Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista nictitans, commonly known as sensitive partridge pea, sensitive pea, small partridge pea, or wild sensitive plant, is a herbaceous legume species. The plant's leaflets are noted for their sensitivity to touch, folding together when disturbed.
Considerations for Children
- The leaflets of Chamaecrista nictitans are sensitive to touch and fold together when disturbed.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench var. nictitans
- Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
- Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Subspecies
- Synonyms: Cassia nictitans
- Common Names: sensitive partridge pea, sensitive plant, partridge pea, sensitive-pea, wild sensitive-plant
Distribution and Habitat
Chamaecrista sp. (including C. nictitans and similar species) is native to North America. A specific specimen of the "Sensitive Partridge Pea" was collected in 1786 from a damp ditch in Jamaica.
Morphological Characteristics
- Chamaecrista nictitans is a slender-stemmed annual, typically growing up to 1 foot tall.
- The plant has pinnately-compound leaves, with each leaf made up of numerous leaflets.
- It features distinctive sensitive plant-like leaves and small but prominent yellow flowers.
Ecological Role
- Sensitive Plants (or Partridge Peas) are nitrogen-fixing annuals, useful for rebuilding soil.
- The seeds of related *Chamaecrista fasciculata* provide food for quail, prairie-chickens, pheasants, ducks, and other grassland birds, while the nectar attracts pollinators.
- Partridge Pea is a caterpillar food plant for a number of butterflies.
Quirky Facts
- The leaflets of Chamaecrista nictitans fold together when touched. They also close completely at night because they are sensitive to light.