How plant ‘muscles’ fold up a mimosa leaf fast
Specially shaped cells work like motors to close mimosa leaflets like a book
![A photo of a small hand reaching out with an index finger to touch the long green leaf of a plant near the ground.](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/012723_SM_plant-motors-feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
A plant’s version of muscles does the lifting and pushing that shuts a Mimosa pudica plant leaf like a book when touched, perhaps as defense against danger. Now scientists are looking at how structural details of the musclelike cells enhance the plant's folding abilities.
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