1. North American annual plant with usually yellow or orange flowers; grows chiefly on wet rather acid soil
   "touch-me-not is known for its ability to soothe skin irritations";
   - jewelweed, lady's earrings, orange balsam, celandine, Impatiens capensis
    
2. Mediterranean vine having oblong fruit that when ripe expels its seeds and juice violently when touched
   "The touch-me-not surprised visitors when its fruits burst open";
   - squirting cucumber, exploding cucumber, Ecballium elaterium
    
3. Prostrate or semi-erect subshrub of tropical America, and Australia; heavily armed with recurved thorns and having sensitive soft grey-green leaflets that fold and droop at night or when touched or cooled
   "Children were fascinated by the touch-me-not's leaves folding at their touch";
   - sensitive plant, shame plant, live-and-die, humble plant, action plant, Mimosa pudica

Derived forms: touch-me-nots

Type of: gourd, gourd vine, herb, herbaceous plant, mimosa

Part of: Ecballium, genus Ecballium, genus Impatiens, genus Mimosa

Encyclopedia: Touch-me-not