ADVERTISEMENTS:
The below mentioned article provides an overview on Family–Mimosaceae. After reading this article you will learn about: 1. Explanation on Family – Mimosaceae 2. Economic Importance of Family – Mimosaceae.
Explanation on Family – Mimosaceae:
The family Mimosaceae includes about 40 genera, and at the same time has been considered to be the smallest one of all the three families of the order Leguminales.
Distribution:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The plants of this family are almost exclusively tropical or sub-tropical in distribution. In our country this family is represented by many important genera, e.g., Acacia. Mimosa, Neptunia, Prosopis, Senegel, etc.
Habit:
They are either shrubs or trees very rarely herbs, sometimes climbers. Many of them are thorny and xeromorphic, e.g.. Acacia, Prosopis; hydrophytes are also found, e.g., Neptunia oleracea. Mostly wild, but some are grown as sand binders to check soil erosion and desert extension.
Root:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Tap and branched, deep rooted in the soil.
Stem:
Erect, branched, terete, woody, solid. The stem tissue is often rich in tannin-sacs and gum passages.
Leaves:
Alternate, petiolate, usually the base of petiole is provided with pulvinus; stipulate, usually stipules are modified into thorns; compound, pinnate and generally bipinnate. Leaf movements are common, reaching a climax in the ultra-sensitivity of Mimosa pudica and Neptunia oleracea. In some Acacias from Australia the leaves are bipinnate and fall earlier. The petioles are being flattened and developing into phyllodes.
Inflorescence:
Racemose, head or spike.
Flower:
Usually sessile, actinomorphic, regular, hermaphrodite, hypogynous, complete small.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Calyx:
5 or 4, gamosepalous, the sepals are more or less connate, green (sepaloid), small, inferior, aestivation generally valvate.
Corolla:
5 or 4, free, polypetalous, valvate, inferior, slightly united towards the base, usually pentamerous.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Androecium:
Usually indefinite stamens, sometimes the number is reduced to ten or even four (e.g., in Mimosa pudica). Stamens are conspicuous, attractive, bright coloured somewhat scented. Anthers 2-celled, dorsifixed, dehiscence by longitudinal slit. The filaments are long and slender.
Gynoecium:
Carpel one (monocarpellary); ovary superior, unilocular; marginal placentation; style long filiform; stigma terminal and simple.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Fruit:
Legume or lomentum.
Seeds:
Exalbuminous.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Pollination:
Usually through the agency of insects (entomophily).
Floral formula:
Two important plants in semi-technical language:
1. Acacia Nilotica; Verna-Babul, Kikar:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Habit:
A medium sized spiny tree. Root: Tap, branched.
Stem:
Erect, woody, solid, cylindrical, branched.
Leaf:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Compound, bipinnate, stipulate, stipules modified into spines, petiolate, rachis possesses glands, leaflet oval, entire, obtuse, unicostate reticulate venation. Inflorescence: The flowers are arranged in compound cymose heads. Flower: Sessile, bracteate, actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, hypogynous, complete, fragrant, small yellow.
Calyx:
Sepals 4 or 5, minute, gamosepalous, campanulate, valvate aestivation, inferior.
Corolla:
Petals 4 or 5, gamopetalous, valvate aestivation, inferior.
Androecium:
Stamens indefinite, polyandrous, long filaments, minute anthers, introrse, yellow.
Gynoecium:
Monocarpellary, ovary superior, unilocular, marginal placentation, style long, stigma minute.
Fruit:
A lomentaceous pod.
Floral Formula:
2. Mimosa Pudica, Verna-Chhui-mui, Lajvanti:
Habit:
Perennial herb or shrub.
Root:
Tap, branched.
Stem:
Erect or prostrate, woody, solid, cylindrical, branched, prickly, densely clothed with deflexed bristles.
Leaf:
Compound bipinnate, very sensitive, rachis beset with ascending bristles stipulate, stipules lanceolate, striate margins bristly, pinnae usually four, 2½ to 3½ inches long, leaflet, 12 to 20 pairs, ½” long, sessile, obliquely narrow-oblong, acute, subcoriaceous, glabrous above, appressed-bristly beneath.
Inflorescence:
Heads usually in pairs.
Flower:
Small, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, complete, tetramerous, hypogynous.
Calyx:
4 sepals, minute, gamosepalous, campanulate, shortly toothed.
Corolla:
4 petals, gamopetalous, connate towards the base, small, inconspicous, valvate aestivation, inferior.
Androecium:
4 stamens, conspicuous, brightly coloured, free, filaments filiform, anthers small, bicelled, not gland crested.
Gynoecium:
1, monocarpellary, ovary superior, unilocular, marginal placentation, style filiform, stigma minute, terminal.
Fruit:
Pod flat, membranous, joints 3-5 falling away when ripe from the sutures which are armed with weak spreading yellowish bristles.
Floral Formula:
Economic Importance of Family – Mimosaceae:
The family is fairly important from the view point of its economic value.
A list of important plants is given below:
1. Acacia catechu: Eng-Catechu; Verna-Khair, Kattha, Khadira- It is found in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. The Kattha industry is mostly located in Bareilly, Gwalior and Bombay. The Kattha tree also serves as a host for the lac insect. The Kattha, obtained from the heartwood is used as a masticatory and as a dyeing and preserving agent.
Catechu is also used as a raw material for plywood adhesives. It is extensively used for dyeing canvas, fishing nets and ropes.
2. Acacia concinna; Eng-Soap pod; Verna-Shikakai, Banritha-The fruits (pods) are used as a detergent for washing hairs, silk and woollen fabrics. It is found along the West Coast, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Bihar.
3. Acacia nilotica: Syn. A. arahica; Eng.-Acacia; Verna-Babul, Kikar-This is a tree. The pods (fruits) are used as fodder. The bark is used as a tan. The gum obtained from the bark is of good quality, which is used in confectionery. Baskets are made from young, green twigs. The twigs are used as tooth green-brushes(Datun). The bark is employed in tanning.
4. Acacia senegel; Syn. A. verek, Verna.-Kumta-This is native of North Africa but now found in the Punjab and Rajasthan. The stem bark, yields a gum which is used in the textile, mucilage, polish, paste and confectionery industries. This is also used as a glaze in painting.
5. Acacia pycnantha’, Eng.-Goldern wattle-This is native of Australia, but now cultivated in the Nilgiris. The extract of bark is used as Kattha.
6. Acacia decurrens var. dealbata: Syn. A. dealbata; Eng.-Silver wattle-A perfume of good quality is obtained from the flowers. The bark is used for tanning and dyeing. It is native of Australia but now cultivated in the Nilgiris.
7. Acacia decurrens var. mollis., Syn. A. mollissima. Eng.-Black wattle-The bark is used for tanning and dyeing. The writing and printing papers are made from its wood pulp.
8. Acacia farnesiana; Eng.-Sweet acacia; Verna-Gandh babul-This is native of the West Indies. The fragrant flowers yield a perfume. It is found throughout our country.
9. Acacia ferruginea; Verna.-Son Khair-This is a tree found in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and the Western Ghats. The tree yields a gum of good quality.
10. Acacia aneura-This is native of Australia. The leaves are used as fodder.
11. Acacia leucophloea; Syn. Mimosa leucophloea; Verna-Safed Kikar, Ronj Arinj-The leaves are used as fodder. The bark yields a tan and a fibre. The bark is also used in the preparation of spirits from sugar and palm juice, acting a clarifying and flavouring agent. It is found in the Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
12. Acacia auriculiformis’, Eng.-Australian Acacia-This is an evergreen tree. It is cultivated as an avenue for its beautiful phyllodes and flowers.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
13. Acacia jacquemontii-, Verna.-Kinkar, Bouli-The bark is used as a tan. The branches are used as fodder. It is also grown as a hedge plant.
14. Albizia lebbeck; Syn. Mimosa lebbech. Acacia lebbeck; Verna.-Siris.-This is a common roadside tree. The leaves and twigs are used as fodder. They are grown for shade in tea and coffee plantations. The wood is used for furniture, railway carriages, structural work and interior fittings. The fallen leaves make good manure.
15. Albizia chinensis; Syn. A. stipulate; Vern.-Siran-It is a tree, found in the sub-Himalayan tract, the Western Peninsula and the Nicobar islands. The leaves and twigs are used as fodder. The writing and printing papers are made from wood pulp.
16. Albizia procera; Vern.-Safed siris-The wood is stronger than that of A. lebbeck. The bark yields a poison. The wood is used in making furniture, etc.
17. Albizia odoratissima; Syn. Mimosa odoratissima’, Eng.-black siris; Verna.-Kala siris.- The leaves and twigs are used as fodder. The wood is used for making furniture and burnt as fuel.
18. Albizia amara; Syn. A. wightii; Mimosa amara-, Verna.-Lallei.-The wood is used for fuel and making tool handles. The dried leaves are used as substitute of soap.
19. Albizia lucida-, Verna.-Galwang-It is found in Assam and Bihar. It makes an important host of lac insect.
20. Mimosa pudica-, Eng.-Sensitive plant; Verna.-Lajwanti, Chhui-mui.-A spreading undershrub, grown as an ornamental.
21. Mimosa rubicaulis; Verna.-Shiah-Kanta, Aila-This is a shrub, grown as a hedge plant.
22. Neptunia oleracea’, Syn. N.prostrata’, Verna.-Lajalu-A common aquatic herb. It is used as a vegetable.
23. Prosopis juliflora; Syn. Mimosa juliflora; Verna. -Kabuli kikar-This is a tree. It is native of Mexico and Central America. It is grown as a hedge plant. It is also being planted to check the extension of the desert. The fruits are used as fodder. This is also planted as windbreak.
24. Prosopis spicigerw, Verna-Chhonkar Jand-This is grown as a hedge plant.
25. Entada phaseoloides; Syn. E. scandens; Lens phaseoloides; Verna.-Barabi, Chian, Gilla-This is a large climbing shrub. The seeds are edible. They are also used as a substitute of soap.
26. Xylia xylocarpa; Syn. Xylia dolabriformis; Verna-Jambu-This is a tree found in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The wood is used for construction work, railway- sleepers, ship-building and bridges.
27. Pithecolobium didce; Syn. Mimosa dulcis; Inga dulcis; Eng.-Manila tamarind; Verna.- Jangal jalebi-This is a tree cultivated throughout India for its edible fruits. They are also grown as hedge plants.
