Biophytum

Biophytum dendroides in the Botanical Garden of Bonn

The genus Biophytum (no common name ) is a plant genus of the family of sorrel plants ( Oxalidaceae ). It consists, depending on the agent believes of 50-70 species. Characteristic is the irritability of the leaflet.

Appearance

All species of the genus have pinnate leaves. The ability to charm and sleep movements is particularly pronounced: Similar to the species of mimosa ( Mimosa ) fold the Biophytum types of their leaflets to the touch within a few seconds together, but down. The whole sheet can be positioned upward. Of these movements the name of the genus is due. Even at night and in bright sunlight the leaves are folded.

The leaflets sometimes have a rounded rectangular or trapezoidal shape. The terminal leaflet is regressed and bristle- shaped. The leaves are never evenly distributed on the stem, but are placed in terminal rosettes or in whorls on the stem standing rosettes.

The inflorescences may be little head shaped or tight trugdoldig. They are always long stalks, while the individual flowers are stalked, more or less short.

The capsule jumps out at maturity with five flaps to a fivefold star on who presents the seeds. After drying of the epidermis of the seed jump this away then, as described in the article about the sorrel plants.

These are perennial plants whose stems can become woody at the base. They reach heights of a few centimeters to over one meter.

Occurrence

The genus Biophytum occurs worldwide in the tropics, and although primarily in rain and cloud forests before. Distribution centers are the Andes of northern South America, Madagascar and South Asia.

B. dendroides and B. sensitivum can become troublesome weeds in the tropics houses of the Botanical Gardens.

Swell

• R. Knuth: Oxalidaceae. IV 130 (issue 95 ), 1930: 1-481. In: H. G. A. Engler (ed.), The plant kingdom. Publisher of Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig.