Sensitive brier, Mimosa , is an attractive native wildflower due to the pink flowers that look like puff balls. The common name sensitive brier is due to the compound leaves folding when touched. The silktree, Albizia , is also called mimosa due to having similar pink flowers and by extension this misnomer has been applied to the the Jacksonville State University annual. Regardless of warnings about it being regrettable they are planted for a quick shade and the flowers. The tree tends to fork freely and is thus relatively easy to climb, which is how I first became familiar with it at one of my uncles. Due to a fungal infection these trees tend to be short lived but by the time they have succumbed to the fungus an extensive seed bank has usually been produced. It seems that seed from the trees I first knew eventually traveled along the road nearly three miles to where I live, while others may have traveled even further. I'm still in the process of eliminating those growing on the property, but there is still the possibility of future introductions from the established populations that can now be found along the highway.
