Rembet or nila grass or giant sensitive plant (Mimosa diplotricha) is a leguminous wood shrub species in the Caesalpinioideae, grown as erect shrubs or rock climbers, up to 3 m high and includes three varieties: Mimosa diplotricha diplotricha, Mimosa diplotricha odibilis and Mimosa diplotricha inermis.
M. diplotricha develops sensitive leaves and will fold if touched. The bipinnate leaves are bright green, hairy and sit alternately along the stem. Each leaf contains about 20 pairs of small sessile lancet leaflets facing each other. Each leaflet is 6-12 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.
Rembet has very long and square-shaped wooden trunks with four longitudinal angular backs. The rows of dense thorns are very sharp stretching along the ridge where each is 3-6 mm long. Flowers are pale pink, forming balls for a diameter of 12 mm and appearing from short stems in leaf joints. Flowers develop into seed pods and winding.
Each pod has a length of 10-35 mm and a width of 6 mm. The seeds are oval and flat for 2-2.5 mm long, 0.6-1.4 mm thick and light brown. Seeds are spread through water or attached to clothing and can last up to 50 years. Nila grass grows fast and is able to tolerate various soils and climates. They form very dense shrubs, very invasive and all parts of the plant are toxic to animals.
Kingdom: Plantae
- : Angiosperms
- : Eudicots
- : Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
- : Mimosoid clade
Genus: Mimosa
Species: M. diplotricha
M. diplotricha develops sensitive leaves and will fold if touched. The bipinnate leaves are bright green, hairy and sit alternately along the stem. Each leaf contains about 20 pairs of small sessile lancet leaflets facing each other. Each leaflet is 6-12 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.
Rembet has very long and square-shaped wooden trunks with four longitudinal angular backs. The rows of dense thorns are very sharp stretching along the ridge where each is 3-6 mm long. Flowers are pale pink, forming balls for a diameter of 12 mm and appearing from short stems in leaf joints. Flowers develop into seed pods and winding.
Each pod has a length of 10-35 mm and a width of 6 mm. The seeds are oval and flat for 2-2.5 mm long, 0.6-1.4 mm thick and light brown. Seeds are spread through water or attached to clothing and can last up to 50 years. Nila grass grows fast and is able to tolerate various soils and climates. They form very dense shrubs, very invasive and all parts of the plant are toxic to animals.
Kingdom: Plantae
- : Angiosperms
- : Eudicots
- : Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
- : Mimosoid clade
Genus: Mimosa
Species: M. diplotricha