134 ANAGALLIS ARVENSIS. 



One of its characteristics thus alluded to has never been for- 

 gotten. It is one of those sensitive little flowers which opens and 

 closes its petals according to atmospheric changes ; hence it is 

 supposed to be an infallible weather guide ; a field barometer, which 

 the rustic studies, and arranges his work from its appearance. 



This curious trait in the Pimpernel has given it the significant 

 name of Shepherd's weather glass, and is alluded to by many early 

 writers. Even Lord Bacon referred to it as a flower which, if not 

 open in the morning, was a sure indication of a rainy day. This 

 peculiarity of the Anagallis enabled Linn^us to include it in his 

 botanical clock, and its habit is stated to be to open every morning 

 at eight minutes past seven, and to close its petals at three minutes 

 past two p.m., but authorities differ slightly as to the exact minutes. 

 It generic name is said to come from the Greek " avaytXdcj " — 

 " to laugh," because of its supposed cure for mania, or for its 

 efficacy in liver complaints. One old medical recipe is as follows : 

 — 20 grains of the powdered herb placed in a strong infusion 

 of the plant, and 15 drops of hartshorn added, to be given every 

 six hours, is a sure remedy for hydrophobia. It was alleged to be 

 serviceable in consumptive cases, in failing eyesight, and in cases 

 of epilepsy, so that, independently of its beauty, it made a mark 

 in the archives of ancient medical science. 



In the artificial system of botany it was placed in the Class 

 Pentandria, Order Monogynia. In the natural system it is found 

 in the Order Primulace^, genus Anagallis^ No. 1049, of the 

 London Catalogue, 7th edition; and there is a very good descrip- 

 tion of our little favourite in page 90 of Liftdkfs School Botany^ 

 with excellent drawings to accompany the text. Of the genus 

 Anagallis there are only three species in the British Flora : 

 A. arvefisis, A. ccB7'ulea^ and A. tenella, known respectively by the 

 common names of Scarlet, Blue, and Bog Pimpernel. Some 

 botanists have considered that A. ccerulea is but a variety of 

 A. arvensis^ but it has a separate number allotted to it in the 

 London Catalogue. Like many others of our common flowers, it 

 is found in all temperate regions of the globe, and follows the 

 civilisation of man. It inhabits Persia, China, Cape of Good 

 Hope, Egypt, United States, and Mexico, but it shuns the arctic 

 regions and the tropical districts. The Bog Pimpernel, A. tenella^ 



