By Ratna Raman. ‘Mimosa pudica’ is identified as feminine and the traits of ‘lajja’ or ‘pudica’ become a pattern of behaviour associated with the female gender. Lajjawati is a woman endowed with shyness or ‘laaj’, who can be easily discomfited or embarrassed. In Tamil, it is known as ‘totta-shurungi’ which translates into English as that which would shrink upon touch.