Taxon:  Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.



Summary
Genus:
Mimosa
Family:
Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)
Subfamily:
Caesalpinioideae
Tribe:
Mimoseae
Nomen number:
24430
Place of publication:
Encycl. suppl. 1:82.  1810
Verified:
05/12/2000 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
1 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Acacia tenuiflora Willd.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Mimosa cabrera H. Karst.
Mimosa hostilis (Mart.) Benth.

No images


Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  2. Bakke, I. A. et al. 2018. Mimosa tenuiflora. Jurema-preta. In: Coradin, L. et al., Espécies nativas da flora brasileira de valor econômico atual ou potencial: plantas para o futuro: região Nordeste 569-577. Note: a species with multiple uses
  3. Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
  4. Britton, N. L. & J. N. Rose. 1928. Mimosaceae. In: Britton, N. L. et al., eds. ser. 1; C. T. Rogerson, ed. ser. 2, North American flora 23(3):159. Note: ser. 1, 1905-1957; ser. 2, 1954-1972
  5. Camargo-Ricalde, S. L. 2000. Description, distribution, anatomy, chemical composition and uses of Mimosa tenuiflora (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) in Mexico. Revista Biol. Trop. 48:939-954.
  6. Forzza, R. C. et al., coord. Lista de espécies da flora do Brasil (on-line resource).
  7. Grether, R. 1984. Notes on the genus Mimosa in Mesoamerica. Bull. Groupe Int. Étude Mimosoideae 12:44.
  8. Lewis, G. P. 1987. Legumes of Bahia
  9. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  10. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  11. Pittier, H. F. et al. 1945-1947. Catálogo de la flora venezolana.
  12. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  13. Rico, L. & T. Pennington. 2012. Review of Fabaceae Neotropical Mimosoideae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm.
  14. Santos, M. V. F. et al. 2019. Native shrub-tree legumes of tropical America with potential for domestication. Legume Perspect. 17:33-35. Note: identified as nitrogen fixer
  15. Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
  16. Williams, L. O. 1981. The useful plants of Central America. Ceiba 24:179.
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Portuguese (Brazil)jurema  2Forzza, R. C. et al., coord. Lista de espécies da flora do Brasil (on-line resource).
Portuguese (Brazil)jurema-preta  2Forzza, R. C. et al., coord. Lista de espécies da flora do Brasil (on-line resource).
Spanish (Mexico)tepescohuite  2Camargo-Ricalde, S. L. 2000. Description, distribution, anatomy, chemical composition and uses of Mimosa tenuiflora (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) in Mexico. Revista Biol. Trop. 48:939-954.
Swedishcabrera  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthern MexicoMexicoChiapas Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthern MexicoMexicoOaxaca Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilBahia Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilCeará Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilMinas Geraisn.Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilParaíba Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilPernambuco Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilPiauís.e.Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilRio Grande do Norte Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilSão Pauloe.?Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaEl Salvador  Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaGuatemala  Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaHonduras  Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaNicaragua  Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaPanama  Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaVenezuelaAragua Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaVenezuelaCojedes Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaVenezuelaGuárico Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaVenezuelaLara Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaVenezuelaZulia Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
1NativeSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaColombiaLa Guajira Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
Native
Northern America
  • SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chiapas, Oaxaca]
Southern America
  • CENTRAL AMERICA: Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador
  • NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Venezuela [Aragua, Cojedes, Guárico, Lara, Zulia]
  • BRAZIL: Brazil [Bahia, Ceará, Minas Gerais (n.), Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí (s.e.), Rio Grande do Norte, São Paulo (e.?)]
  • WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia [La Guajira]

Reference(s)
  1. Barneby, R. C. 1991. Sensitivae censitae: a description of the genus Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 65:135.
  2. Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Animal foodforage Bakke, I. A. et al. 2018. Mimosa tenuiflora. Jurema-preta. In: Coradin, L. et al., Espécies nativas da flora brasileira de valor econômico atual ou potencial: plantas para o futuro: região Nordeste 569-577. Note: a species with multiple uses
EnvironmentalrevegetatorpotentialBakke, I. A. et al. 2018. Mimosa tenuiflora. Jurema-preta. In: Coradin, L. et al., Espécies nativas da flora brasileira de valor econômico atual ou potencial: plantas para o futuro: região Nordeste 569-577. Note: a species with multiple uses
Fuelscharcoal Bakke, I. A. et al. 2018. Mimosa tenuiflora. Jurema-preta. In: Coradin, L. et al., Espécies nativas da flora brasileira de valor econômico atual ou potencial: plantas para o futuro: região Nordeste 569-577. Note: a species with multiple uses
Fuelsfuelwood Rico, L. & T. Pennington. 2012. Review of Fabaceae Neotropical Mimosoideae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm.
Fuelsfuelwood Bakke, I. A. et al. 2018. Mimosa tenuiflora. Jurema-preta. In: Coradin, L. et al., Espécies nativas da flora brasileira de valor econômico atual ou potencial: plantas para o futuro: região Nordeste 569-577. Note: a species with multiple uses
Materialstannin/dyestuffpotentialBakke, I. A. et al. 2018. Mimosa tenuiflora. Jurema-preta. In: Coradin, L. et al., Espécies nativas da flora brasileira de valor econômico atual ou potencial: plantas para o futuro: região Nordeste 569-577. Note: a species with multiple uses
Medicinesfolklore Camargo-Ricalde, S. L. 2000. Description, distribution, anatomy, chemical composition and uses of Mimosa tenuiflora (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) in Mexico. Revista Biol. Trop. 48:939-954.
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Medicinesfolkloreas Mimosa hostilisDuke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=24430. Accessed 12 May 2026.