[anfractuosity]

That's really fascinating about the Mimosa pudica responding differently to being dropped after a while.

Interestingly along with Venus fly traps, their movement response can also be triggered with electricity.

[burnte]

Considering that it all boils down to ions moving to trigger various actions, it's not surprising that electricity could trigger it. That's a good way to get anything with muscles to move, too. :)

[anfractuosity]

Heh, that's true.

As far as I know though, you can't force the venus fly trap or mimosa to open it's leaves again via electricity.

I think with the mimosa iirc, strong bright light can open it's leaves though.

[burnte]

Correct. Both of those actions occur due to the ion channels and gates resetting to their normal, pre-triggered state. In both of these plants their movements are triggered by ion potentials changing, like nerves in animals, opening channels to move water from one area to another, changing the shape of cells, bending cell walls due to water pressure, causing the movement. Then, slowly the water is moved back to its pre-trigger state, slowly opening the venus fly trap, or leaflets in this plant. Some insects move their legs through adjusting liquid pressure.

[anfractuosity]

Thanks for the description, that makes a lot of sense.

I'll have to read up what light is doing wrt the Mimosa, as to how it opens the leaves.

I bought one recently, as well as closing it's leaves when you touch them, it seems to 'go to sleep', when it gets darker.

Edit:

https://backyardbrains.com/experiments/Plants_Mimosas

Is cool, measuring the action potential.

[burnte]

Those diagrams are fantastic. Great find!