News Life How plant ‘muscles’ fold up a mimosa leaf fast Specially shaped cells work like motors to close mimosa leaflets like a book 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. Ole_CNX/istock/getty images plus Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Susan Milius February 3, 2023 at 10:00 am Call them plant motors.