touch-me-not

Noun

• prostrate or semi-erect subshrub of tropical America, and Australia; heavily armed with recurved thorns and having sensitive soft grey-green leaflets that fold and droop at night or when touched or cooled

• Mediterranean vine having oblong fruit that when ripe expels its seeds and juice violently when touched

• North American annual plant with usually yellow or orange flowers; grows chiefly on wet rather acid soil

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  sensitive plant , shame plant , live-and-die , humble plant , action plant , Mimosa pudica , squirting cucumber , exploding cucumber , Ecballium elaterium , jewelweed , lady's earrings , orange balsam , celandine , Impatiens capensis