Mimosa quadrivalvis

Mimosa quadrivalvis
Photo take by Michelle M. Smith
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae
Genus:	Mimosa
Species:	M. quadrivalvis
Binomial name
Mimosa quadrivalvis L.
Natural range of Mimosa quadrivalvis from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Description

Common name: fourvalve mimosa

Ecology

In a study comparing N2 fixation potential in nine legume species occurring in longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystems, M. quadrivalvis showed clear superiority in developing a comparatively large nodule mass to support high N2 fixation activity (Cathey et al. 2010). Aboveground N concentration was also greatest for M. quadrivalis (Cathey et al. 2010). Finally, N2 fixation potential for M. quadrivalvis does not differ between shaded and unshaded environments (Cathey et al. 2010). The high potential for N2 fixation makes M. quadrivalvis a candidate species for contributing to the N economy in the restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems (Cathey et al. 2010).

Habitat

It is commonly found in pine sandhill (Downer-MR_2012_MSThesis). Occurs in areas that have sandy loamy soil (Miller et al 1999). Mimosa quadrivalvis is predominately in native groundcover with a statistical affinity in upland pinelands of South Georgia (Ostertag and Robertson 2007).

Phenology

It is a herbaceous climber

Seed dispersal

Dispersal is by gravity (Maza-Villalobos et al 2011).

Pollination

Mark Deyrup at Archbold Biological Station observed these Hymenoptera species on Mimosa quadrivalvis

Colletidae Colletes distinctus

Halictidae Agapostemon splendens

Halictidae Augochlorella aurata

Halictidae Augochloropsis metallica

Halictidae Augochloropsis sumptuosa

Halictidae Lasioglossum miniatulus

Halictidae Lasioglossum nymphalis

Halictidae Lasioglossum placidensis

Sphecidae Prionyx thomae

Use by animals

Deyrup observed these bees, Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Dialictus miniatulus, D. placidensis, AnthidiellumPerplexum on M. quadrivalvis (Deyrup et al 2002).

References and notes

Cathey, S. E., L. R. Boring, et al. (2010). "Assessment of N2 fixation capability of native legumes from the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem." Environmental and Experimental Botany 67: 444-450.

Deyrup, M. J. E., and Beth Norden (2002). "The diversity and floral hosts of bees at the Archbold Biological Station, Florida (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)." Insecta mundi 16(1-3).

Downer, M. R. (2012). Plant species richness and species area relationships in a Florida sandhill community. Integrative Biology. Ann Arbor, MI, University of South Florida. M.S.: 52.

Miller, J. H., R. S. Boyd, et al. (1999). "Floristic diversity, stand structure, and composition 11 years after herbicide site preparation." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 29: 1073-1083.

Maza-Villalobos, S., C. Lemus-Herrera, et al. (2011). "Successional trends in soil seed banks of abandoned pastures of a Neotropical dry region." Journal of Tropical Ecology 27: 35-49

Ostertag, T.E., and K.M. Robertson. 2007. A comparison of native versus old-field vegetation in upland pinelands managed with frequent fire, South Georgia, USA. Pages 109–120 in R.E. Masters and K.E.M. Galley (eds.). Proceedings of the 23rd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems.