26o FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



within an hour. It might be said that certain 

 flowers have a manifest tendency to open or close 

 at, or about a certain time, unless this tendency- 

 is disturbed or thwarted by special interference. 

 Probably this was all that Linnaeus ever intended, 

 and that his design was to indicate that some flowers 

 expanded with the first break of day, others not 

 until noon, and others again in the evening, or during 

 the night. Thus much is undoubtedly true and in 

 this aspect the subject has its interest, sufficient tc^ 

 demand a brief notice at our hands, although, 

 practically of but little scientific value. 



The catalogue, as constructed by Linnaeus ^ would 

 be too long for insertion here, and we shall be 

 content with enumerating the abbreviated list as 

 corroborated by De Candollc," the hours of waking 

 being first stated. 



2 a.m. Purple Convolvulus {Ipomaa purpurea) 

 3-4 a.m. Fior de Notte {Ipomcca nil) 

 „ Great Bindweed {Calystcgia sepmm) 



4-5 a.m. Goatsbeard {Tragopogon pratcnsc) and 

 other Cichoraceai 

 5 a.m. Yellow Arctic Poppy {Papairr nudi- 

 caii/e) 



' Linna.'us, " rhilosophia Botanica," 2nd cd., Vienna, 1783, 



P- 273- 

 - Dc Candolle, " Physiologic Vcgctale," ii., 484. 



