I brought seeds back from Mx over 2 yrs ago & decided to plant them last spring & to my surprise, they sprouted! I don't remember what the plants or trees looked like. They both close up paired leaves at night, as hands in prayer.
The one on left has thorns. I know of at least one person on here that lives in Mx... hope he sees this. Anyone have a clue? Thanks


and, at night:

That plant on the right is an invasive weed. We have them here, I am constantly pulling them up.

The one on the right reminds me of my Mimosa tree.. it has pretty pink blooms in the spring to summer.. The seeds are all over my yard and i have baby trees popping up all over all the time..

Not sure it would be the same..

Gina *BabyBlue*

Patty, do the leaves of the plant on the right (red pot) feel stiff, sort of like cardboard? If so it is a Cardboard Palm. If they do not feel firm/stiff than it is not a Cardboard Palm. - Millet

Patty the plant on the left (tall one) is a "ldyaqua1 Mx" - Millet

You are too funny Millet No, the leaves are not at all stiff. It looks very delicate...everyone loves it.
Gina, could you post a pic of your tree & maybe seedlings if they're still around, or send it in email? I see you sent me a link for plant ID..Thanks! I'll go there soon.
I must've liked the plants I took the seeds from but can't remember from 2 yrs ago. It grows kinda 'weepy'...leaning over with new sets of leaves & standing up as they turn darker green. Maybe I should wait awhile & just let it grow. The one on left is interesting too & has thorns. Next time I collect seeds, I'll have to label them better & even take a pic of mother plant.

The plant on the right looks much like my tamarind tree. The stalk becomes woody even at that height and seems to be a slow grower. These trees are pretty common in Mexico. At night or when stressed mine folds it's leaves up like yours. Just a guess...

Patty, I tried to take pictures of my trees when they were in bloom but they are getting too tall.. I did find on Daves garden a page and there are quite a few pictures of the flowers, trees and seed pods..
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1764/index.html
Hope the pictures there help..
Gina *BabyBlue*

Also to add.. My Mimosa closes up it's leaves around dusk and opens back up come day break..
The smell of the flowers is very sweet!! I have the only two trees for 2 blocks.. but I can still smell my tree half a block away.. Tons of bees when it is in bloom...

Gina *BabyBlue*

WEEDS I SAY !!!

I would guess that the one on the right is some sort of cassia. All of the cassia I know of have yellow, pea-like flowers. (they are members of the pea family) Some are hardy here in SC. I grow cassia bicapsularis and have grown c. corymbosa, and c. alata. I also grew one from seed that I picked up at a garden near San Fransico, but I don't remember it's name. All of the ones I have grown close their leaves a night (as do peas). There are lots of similiar looking cassias around.

Lazz is right that there is at least one in the SE that is an invasive weed that farmers despise. I believe it is commonly called Coffee Weed. It may be a senna, which is closely related to cassia.

I have seen the leaf on the left, but I am not sure of what it might be. My first thought was Powder Puff plant (can't remember the botanical name). You might want to do a search for that and see if it strikes a bell. It is common to Mexico.

Ned

I'm surprised at all the responses so far...thanks! It's narrowing down LOL
Eyeckr, mine is woody on the bottom half. I do remember that both seeds were big & am now thinking that one of them was in a big 4-7 inch brown pod - like a over ripe bean ..or PEA POD! Ned, you say in the pea family??!!!! You hit a bell! I will look up the 3 Cassia's you mentioned and Tamarind & Mimora..... & the Puff plant. I'm glad I posted this..Thanks again! Wish I could see a pic of what you all have.
Laaz, a weed is only something you don't want growing

Patty I'll take some photos this weekend. These things spring up faster than I can pull them out !!!!

Weeds I say !!! Weeds weeds weeds !!!

I went to link Gina posted & it didn't look like Mimosa, so I typed in Tamarind Tree & I think this is it...looks identical. It posted that it sells at Pine Island nursery in Miami...says it is a popular fruit tree that grow 25 X25 ft. & even showed the seed pods. I'm 99 1/2% sure this is it. Now, to look up the Puff plant. What would I do without this forum What will I do with a 25 ft tree for zone 9?

Thanks eyeckr, maybe I'll bring it to Virginia Beach for you or Ned hope I didn't do anything illegal by copying ths from DG

I'll sneak over to Laaz' house & plant it in his front yard