Biophytum sensitivum (South Sea palm)

Biophytum belong to the wood sorrel family (Oxalidaceae). Although they resemble mimosas and their leaflets can fold together, they are not closely related. With their mostly unbranched, upright stems and pinnate, circularly arranged leaves, they are reminiscent of small palms. Biophytum are usually self-fertile and even self-seed through bursting seed capsules once they reach flowering maturity after only a few months. This makes them interesting plants for cultivation in terrariums or (with limitations) as houseplants. With proper care, a small, self-sustaining population can soon be established.

Biophytum sensitivum reaches a "crown" diameter of about 10 to 15 cm and a height of up to 40 cm, but usually remains smaller and only grows to about 15 to 20 cm tall.

The plants offered commercially, and also here, as *B. sensitivum* , are perhaps actually *B. dendroides* from South America. They are almost identical in appearance, except for the flower color. In nature , *B. sensitivum* usually has yellow flowers, although white to pink flowers are occasionally found, while *B. dendroides* has pink flowers. Our plants have pink flowers, which would suggest *B. dendroides *. However, *B. dendroides* should have flower stalks with only one flower, while *B. sensitivum* should have several. Our plants usually have several flowers per flower stalk, which again points more towards *B. sensitivum* . In short: We don't know for sure whether these are *B. sensitivum* or * B. dendroides* , because the plants exhibit characteristics of both species.



You will receive a young plant approximately 5 to 10 cm tall in a 7 cm square pot.