Britannica AI Icon

Mimoseae

plant tribe
Also known as: Mimosoideae

Quick Summary

The Mimoseae are a tribe within the plant family Fabaceae, formerly known as the subfamily Mimosoideae. This group comprises about 100 genera and over 3,500 species. A key characteristic of Mimoseae is their large leaves, which are typically divided into secondary leaflets, often giving them a feathery or fern-like appearance. Many species in this tribe have radially symmetric flowers, easily identified by their long stamens that extend beyond the petals. A notable feature is the presence of nodules on their roots, which host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Some well-known examples include the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica), which folds its leaves when touched, and the silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), known for its ornamental value.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. Fabaceae - Mimoseae
  2. mimosa
  3. Mimosaceae

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.