44 FLORA HISTORICA. 



The most careless observer of plants must have 

 noticed that the daisy not only closes its petals at 

 night, but that they are also carefully folded over 

 the yellow disk in rainy weather. It must likewise 

 have struck the attention of the curious, that not 

 only this flower, but most others which are natives 

 of moist climates, have the power, we may almost 

 say instinct, of securing their parts of fructification 

 from the rains of the day or the dews of the night, 

 whilst those of regular dry climates are quite desti- 

 tute of this wise provision of Nature. 



The botanist would understand the nature of 

 the Daisy by the class and order in which it is 

 placed by Linnaeus, although he might not have 

 seen it ; but as many of our readers may not pos- 

 sess the same advantage, we shall describe the 

 nature of the Daisy, and other plants in this class 

 and order, in a familiar style, however it may offend 

 botanical critics. 



The Daisy has been placed in the class Syn- 

 genesia (which is so called from two Greek words 

 which imply to generate together), because it is a 

 compound flower, or rather it is composed of a 

 number of small yellow florets placed on one com- 

 mon receptacle, as so many small cups might be 

 placed on one tray or salver ; for if the thumb or 

 yellow disk of the common daisy is closely ex- 

 amined, it will be found to be composed of about 



