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. | |
Contents
Description
Common name: fourvalve mimosa
Distribution
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).
Seed bank and germination
Fire ecology
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).
Diseases and parasites
Conservation and Management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
==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.
