Abstract: I've been researching the Mimosa pudica. Also known as the Touch-Me-Not plant. The leaves of this plant close with even the slightest touch or environmental stress; they close as a defense mechanism similar to the Venus Fly Trap. I sought to understand further on how and why these leaves close if enhanced or lower the amount of one environmental factor can alter the behaviour of the leaves closing and opening responsive times. I investigated the impact of varying light intensities on the response times of M. pudica. Utilizing a t-test analysis, we compared the response times of plants exposed to lower and higher light intensities. Results revealed a significant difference in response times between the two groups (t(6) = 4.07, p < 0.05), indicating a notable sensitivity of M. pudica to light intensity variations. Specifically, under lower light intensity, M. pudica exhibited rapid leaf closure followed by re-opening within 10-16 minutes. Conversely, under higher light intensity, the leaf closure was slower and more organized, with re-opening occurring within 5-8 minutes. These findings underscore the pronounced influence of light intensity on the responsiveness of M. pudica, with implications for understanding plant behavior and adaptation mechanisms.

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