Sinister truth behind 'very cool' plant found in Aussie woman's lawn

A “very cool looking” plant found growing in the middle of a woman’s lawn has served as a grim reminder to Aussie gardeners. The sprawling growth featuring delicate leaves and soft pink flowers was recently discovered in the Queenslander’s suburban home in Moreton Bay.

“I haven’t got a clue what it is,” the curious woman posted online, asking locals with a green thumb to weigh in. “It closes its leaves when touched.”

While its exterior is indeed alluring, it is in fact quite “nasty”, they informed her. The plant is an invasive weed that some Aussies may remember playing with as a kid. It is called mimosa pudica — otherwise known as a sensitive plant or touch-me-not.

The prickly shrub, known for its leaves that fold up when touched and at night, is a pest that was probably introduced as a garden plant, Dr Carol Booth, Invasive Species Council principal policy analyst, told Yahoo News Australia.

Invasive weed a big problem in coastal Australia

It is commonly found in coastal areas in north and Central Queensland but has also been reported in a handful of locations in NSW and near Darwin.

It hasn’t yet been declared a weed of national significance, however the Northern Territory and Western Australia have deemed it a pest. It spreads through movement of people and animals or through seeds in gravel.

“This species is a concern for both agriculture and conservation and invasive in many countries, including Australia, particularly in wet coastal regions,” Dr Booth explained. “It typically thrives in disturbed areas and can form a dense ground cover that displaces other plants.

“By changing the soil properties and altering microbial communities, it can create conditions that favour further invasion.”

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Pest plant 'probably toxic to cattle'

Dr Booth said the sensitive plant was one of thousands of legume species that were introduced to Australia as a potential livestock pasture — “even though it is probably toxic to cattle”.

According to the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, the plant is suspected of poisoning cattle, and although it can sometimes cause skin irritations, it’s not believed to be harmful to people or pets.

In an attempt to prevent the weed from spreading, Queensland residents are encouraged by the government to take reasonable measures to control invasive plants found on their properties, with herbicide being the most common.

Gardeners shared their own tips with the woman online.

“Don’t mow over it or you will have it everywhere. Pull it out by the roots and wear gloves,” one person suggested.

“I have to regularly monitor our acre property for clumps of it!” another complained. “Then it’s out with heavy duty gloves and a long screwdriver to dig it out. We hate it with a passion!”

“Don’t touch. Son did on neighbour’s verge and [had an] itchy hand all day,” someone else warned.

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